Underpaid and Overworked: New report from Communications Workers of America Local 7076 on the Staffing Crisis at the State of New Mexico

Organization Press Release – From the Communications Workers of America, Local 7076

On September 9th, The Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 7076 will release a report based on a survey of 714 state employees detailing the conditions in New Mexico state agencies with historically short staffing.

The report, “Underpaid and Overworked: New Mexico State Workers On How the Staffing Crisis Costs Us All” provides insight into the harmful results of low and inequitable pay, lack of remote work options, and short staffing for New Mexico state employees and those they serve.

This report release coincides with the first day of the Union’s contract bargaining with the State, where the Union will be fighting for better working conditions to address this issue. 

“Our members are employees of the state of New Mexico because they care deeply about the communities they serve. They want to keep doing the work they do to serve New Mexicans, but when it comes at the expense of their physical or mental health or compromises their families’ futures, they are being forced to make the tough decision to look for other jobs.” said CWA 7076 President, Megan Green. 

The report documents historically-high vacancy rates of over 20% the last three years and annual turnover and overtime costs of over $130 million a year.

It details the negative consequences of understaffing, inconsistent cost-of-living raises, appropriations that neglect to fully fund fair compensation, and a lack of state accountability in implementing union-negotiated agreements or New Mexico law on pay and other personnel policies.

A CWA member and Commission for the Blind employee said “I am currently being offered positions outside the state that have better pay and benefits. The fact that we do not get pay raises in order to move up our pay scale is very discouraging and is forcing me to look outside of state employment in order to support my growing family. I love what I do and helping people, but unfortunately I can’t use “thank you” or “we appreciate you” to pay the bills.”

Key report findings include:

• 460 survey respondents, 64%, selected low pay as the top driver of turnover. 
• 494 survey respondents, 69%, report considering leaving their job for another position. When asked what 3 changes would be necessary to convince them to stay, 327 or 66% respondents selected “Guaranteed annual cost-of-living raises linked to inflation,” 266 or 54% selected “remote work options,” and 202 or 41% selected “fair pay linked to years of service.”
• Low staffing has resulted in precarious and concerning working conditions that impact the quality of services received by everyday New Mexicans: 

• 446 survey respondents, 63%, report that their department is currently understaffed;
• 438 survey respondents, 61%, share that low staffing has affected their agency’s ability to provide quality services.
  • 154 respondents, over one-third, report that programs or services have been cut or significantly scaled back;
  • 145, one-third, report that regulatory outcomes, such as important health and safety inspections in workplaces and communities, are routinely delayed;
  • 120, over a quarter, shared that the state is losing revenue due to program cuts;
  • 99, nearly a quarter, indicate that critical state services and benefits are delayed;
  • 71, 16%, report that vulnerable populations (not including children) are in unsafe conditions;
  • 65, 15%, report that natural resources are not being protected;
  • 44, 10%, report that serious health conditions are left untreated, resulting in needless suffering and even death; 
  • 32, 7%, report that children are in unsafe conditions and/or are not receiving critical support. 

One survey respondent from the Department of Health said “There have been times when we cannot open doors, due to understaffing. Turning clients away, or scheduling clients way out or with uncertainty  of appointment dates and times.”

Communications Workers of America Local 7076 and their labor and community allies urge state leaders to:

• Fund across-the-board cost-of-living increases based on inflation; 
• Provide a one-time appropriation to fix pay inequities caused by decades of inconsistent cost-of-living raises;
• Appropriate funds necessary to compensate state employees based on collective bargaining agreements and New Mexico Administrative Code, including ensuring pay equity and appropriate placement within pay bands;
• Uphold the rights of labor unions to collectively bargain over pay classifications and appropriate placement of employee salaries and policies to address retention, including: remote work options, better paid leave, and other benefits like retirement and the healthcare plan. 

Underpaid and Overworked – The Report