TAMMY RODRIGUEZ
“I KEEP PEOPLE SAFE ON CALIFORNIA ROADS. BUT MY SALARY IS SO LOW I ” STRUGGLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

I work with Californians from all walks of life. Helping them is important and it’s something that gives me a lot of pride in the work I do to keep our communities safe by performing public transportation testing and certification for the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). 

But even though my job is gratifying, my salary is so low, it’s hard for me to take care of my own family. I used to donate to the food bank and now I’m going there to get my groceries. And eating out is out of the question because even fast food is too expensive for us. 

My daughter is very understanding — she even volunteers at homeless shelters —but when you’re eating beans and rice at the end of every month, it gets discouraging. She’s 14, and not being able to get new clothes can be a source of stress, especially since she’s back in person at school. I just wish I could afford to get her all the things she needs. 

The low pay also makes our jobs much harder because it leads to high turnover. Management simply can’t fill open positions. People go through multiple rounds of interviews only to decline the position when they realize that the pay scale is so low.

We’re dealing with 50% vacancy rates, yet we’re still asked to send people to help other offices that are even more understaffed. Management is always asking why they can’t hire anybody, but with the current pay rates, it’s no surprise. Some of my coworkers have left to work at the federal government because they couldn’t afford to pay rent on our salaries.

And it’s not just my department.  The majority of state workers are just like me.  This doesn’t just hurt those of us working at the DMV. It also hurts Californians who have longer waits to get the services they need.

This is inexcusable in a state as wealthy as California.  There’s a better way forward. All we’re asking is for the State to invest in the people who keep California running to ensure we can support our own families.

TAMMY RODRIGUEZ
– MOTOR VEHICLE REPRESENTATIVE
   DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES (DMV)