FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah LaFrenz, sarah.lafrenz@koseunion.org
March 25, 2026 7:20 PM
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas state workers are speaking out after lawmakers approved a 1 percent across-the-board pay raise, saying it fails to keep up with the current 2.4% inflation rate, rising costs, and does not reflect the value of the work they do every day to keep communities running.
Meanwhile, workers point to significantly larger raises approved for lawmakers and their staff in recent years, including a nearly 93 percent increase for legislators two years ago and additional raises since, including a 4% budgeted increase for the upcoming fiscal year.
Members of the Kansas Organization of State Employees, affiliated with AFSCME and AFT, say the increase falls short as inflation continues to outpace wages and the cost of everyday necessities such as housing, food, childcare, and health care continues to climb.
“This is about priorities,” said KOSE President Sarah LaFrenz. “The people making decisions about our pay are taking care of themselves first while asking state workers to fall further behind. That is not equitable, and it is not right.”
State workers across Kansas continued serving their communities through challenging times, maintaining essential public services and supporting families across the state. Workers say a 1 percent raise does not come close to meeting the realities they face at the kitchen table.
“State workers deserve to be more than an afterthought,” LaFrenz said. “We are the ones who keep our state running. We are speaking up for ourselves, for our families, and for the communities we serve.”
KOSE members are urging lawmakers to reconsider and adopt a pay increase that keeps pace with inflation and reflects the critical role state workers play. Workers are contacting their elected officials, sharing their stories, and calling for action.