The end of the year is quickly upon us, and there is no better time to reach out to your local government officials to make sure your voice is heard before the upcoming legislative session. State employee compensation was a priority last year, but due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, state employees did not receive the 5 percent increase to their compensation package that the Utah Public Employees’ Association (UPEA) lobbied for during the 2020 legislative session. Let your representatives know that the increase was long overdue last year, and that after a year of being a front- line worker in a pandemic, an increase is even more deserved.
3 Easy Steps for Contacting Your Legislator:
- Find your representatives
- All you need to know is your home address
- Click on their photos to find the contact information
- Make the first contact (via phone, email, or even letter)
- Introduce yourself
- Make it personal but professional
- Clarify your point (compensation, retention, retirement, etc.)
- Follow up
- Send reminders weekly or even daily so they don’t forget who you are and what’s important to you
Important Reminders:
Make sure you’re always contacting your representatives on your own time and using personal resources to avoid a conflict of interest. You are reaching out as a constituent who works for the state, not as a representative of a state agency. Feel free to let your representatives know that you are a UPEA member.
For more info about contacting your legislator, check out our tutorial videos on the UPEA website.