/Promises after promises’ State workers, stuck under stagnant wages, have no guarantee of life without poverty

Promises after promises’ State workers, stuck under stagnant wages, have no guarantee of life without poverty

Martin, a substitute teacher, Family Dollar cashier, was able to afford food every day for her 16-year old daughter Tangelia. Martin was told by an employee of Mississippi Department of Human Services (which oversees state welfare programs) that she had to work harder in order to keep her benefits. She recalls that the worker said to her, “The substitute teaching of two days per month is not going be enough.” Reagan, then President, had promoted the welfare-queen myth, which was now debunked and has racist connotations. It suggested that poor women who received government assistance lived extravagant lives. Reagan, a Republican set the tone for a major shift in public benefits that Democratic President Bill Clinton implemented in 1996. Under the belief that employment reduces government dependence and eradicates poverty, the Clinton-era reforms gave states more power and required assistance recipients to work harder. Martin was told by a human-services worker that she would place her on the program. Martin started working three days per week as a clerk at the Adams County human-services department office. She received food stamps after she worked 140 hours per month. Martin attended Jackson State University for two years and Copiah-Lincoln Community College, but she didn’t finish her degree. She was paid nothing for her work, and she worked an average of $1.50 per hour, even with the food assistance that she received. The minimum wage was $3.35 that year. This was for a while, until Martin was hired full-time by the welfare office to answer phones and assist clients applying for food stamps. She was excited to have a regular job, 9-to-5, that would allow her to work during the summer, as opposed the Natchez school bus driving job she had just started. In 1990, her first year at the human-services division she made $8,446.88. She is expected to make $23,862.5 this year, her 30th year on the job. Martin believes that stable employment is not enough to ensure a life without poverty. Martin was 26 when her nephew Thomas Richardson, then a human-services agent, was shot to the head as he sat in his car following a Natchez High School football match. Martin still holds the paperwork proving his death accidental. Richardson’s mother, Tonisha, was unable to care for her two children. She had a 1-year-old daughter and a 3-month old daughter. Martin adopted the infants Tonisha, Brittany, and raised them up until they became adults. Martin gave birth in 1992 to her second child and her last, Tylon. 1992 saw the poverty line for a single mother with three children at $13,950. This was several thousand less than Martin was being paid by the state to keep the county’s human services office in good shape. Her children’s father was not present in the family. She pursued him for child support but he refused to pay. The father had worked cash jobs for many decades and the state couldn’t track their wages. Martin claimed that he received social security recently, which was garnished by the state. Martin said that he received a letter from Mississippi Today stating that the state had taken $300 and other odd dollars from Martin. Martin was only able to keep her food stamps for two months after she started working full-time at the human service office. Martin was eligible for assistance again in 2002, but a $2,500 salary bump in 2006 pushed her out of eligibility. Her food assistance was then ended. However, financial hardship continued. Martin’s children all played sports. Because she had limited funds for gasoline, it was difficult for her to attend away games. Martin recalls that the teams would often stop at McDonalds after matches. She didn’t have enough money to buy food for her children. She said that “that would be my hardest time” and not because it was her greatest financial hardship but because it was their most visible. Martin would take her wallet out of her purse to bring some humor to the family’s financial situation. When her children asked her for pocket money, Martin told them that they could consult her wallet like a Magic 8 Ball. “The wallet tells me what?” Martin would reply, “The wallet says what?” She continued to help others in financial uncertainty, and she worked hard. Martin stated that she knows exactly where the people she works with at the county welfare office. I tell them, “I’m walking in their shoes, sweetheart. It’s only that you see me behind a desk. I am walking in your shoes. I can understand what it’s like to go home and not have enough money to make ends meet. Now Martin, 62 years old, takes care of her grandson Brionne, while Tonisha, Tonisha’s correctional officer at Louisiana State Penitentiary. Martin is among 28,000 Mississippi state employees who have not received an all-encompassing pay increase from the Legislature for over a decade. However, Tonisha and more than 4,000 other employees earning less than $30,000 each received a $1,000 salary bump. Martin said that the raise was a “slap in the face” and spoke out to Clarion Ledger at the time. “I have worked seven years straight without any increase in my salary or cost of living adjustment,” Martin said. Lawmakers will be considering pay increases for teachers and state employees during the 2019 session. Advocates are optimistic, as it is an election year. Gov. Phil Bryant proposed pay increases for teachers in his budget proposal. A December legislative budget outline left an unallocated $790.5million, which could be used to fund raises. Speaker Philip Gunn (R-Clinton) and Lieutenant Governor. Tate Reeves and Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, have both said that they are open to giving state workers raises. Reeves said this week at a Jackson press conference that she was looking forward to working with Speaker Gunn, and other House colleagues to recognize dedicated public servants who are worthy of a raise. Reeves: Reeves lists teacher pay raise and pension funding as 2019 priorities. According to the Mississippi State Personnel Board, the average salary for state employees in Mississippi is $36,837. This is roughly $8,000 less than the average pay of state employees in four neighboring states which averages $44,852. Martin stated that it was in poor taste. Martin said, “Promises after elections, election year after election, you’ve been assured an increase is on the way.” Inflation adjusted, Martin now earns 40% more than she did in 1989. Martin’s current salary puts her below the poverty line as a single mother of three, despite having 30 years of work experience. Martin stated, “I live with the basics” as she takes care of her household and provides for her grandson. Martin is paid twice per month. She uses this money to support her family. Her $531 after taxes first check pays for her $430 home note and $42 alarm system. She has $60 left over to fill up her gas tank and purchase a few groceries (bread, grits and margarine) until her next check. Her second check is for utilities, including electric, gas and water. With a low income and the possibility of unexpected expenses, she tries to spend $150 per month on groceries. However, budgeting can be difficult with such little income. Her gas bill, which is usually $60 per month, was over $100 last month, which further squeezed her budget. She might turn to one of her daughters, or their godparents, to save money for food or bills in months when she is short. Her red 2009 Chevy Cobalt is constantly in danger of breaking down. She bought it from her sister. There isn’t much entertainment left and there are no vacations. Martin will take Brionne to a movie when she receives her tax refund. It’ll be a treat for Brionne for being such a great grandson. Martin also says Brionne has been asking for a new game for her PlayStation. This is something Martin said he would have to share with his mom. Martin lives in an orange brick house with peeling teal paint, near Natchez. Martin purchased the house in 2007 with help from a home-finance program. Martin was also able to complete financial courses that helped her rebuild her credit. Martin used to use payday loans in the past to help her survive between paychecks. These loans allow those with low incomes or with poor credit to pay an upfront fee to get cash. Payday lenders in Mississippi can charge up to 300 percent annually interest rates for these short-term loans. These loans are supposed be repaid within 30 days. This is contrary to what other states have done. However, many consumers end up stuck in a cycle that can take years for them to get out of. Martin stated that he was spending more on fees than he was borrowing from them. Rep. Jarvis Dortch (D-Raymond) will introduce legislation to help state workers such as Martin. The General Pay Advance Act (GAP), would allow state employees to get a pay advance from their state when they are faced with unexpected expenses. Some Mississippi legislators have been reluctant to stop payday lending. Dortch stated that while these products are terrible, they are the only option for (poor) people in Mississippi. “I don’t believe that’s true. Dortch said that Mississippi Today should not limit legislators’ creativity. The state employees Dortch refers to as “the people we don’t think about who make this agency work” and could apply online for a pay advance of up to $600 to secure a future paycheck. While the state will not charge interest on the loan but will require a processing fee of 5 percent to cover program administration costs, it would not charge any other fees. Brenda Scott, president of Mississippi Alliance of State Employees (which represents state workers), said that she was skeptical that the current Legislature would be interested in such a measure. “I just don’t have much faith that the supermajority cares much about how our state workers are surviving,” Scott told Mississippi Today, referring to the Republican-controlled statehouse. Martin remains optimistic, however. Martin would hire a plumber to fix her hot water pressure if she were to get a raise. She also wants a new exterior paint job on her house. She’s already chosen a pale peach color.