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Friday, April 3, 2020
SEANC advocating for employee safety, hazard pay SEANC is working around the clock to make sure your questions and concerns are addressed as the state deals with the COVID-19 crisis. We are advocating for the closure of all worksites that do not involve mandatory workers. Employees should be allowed to work from home when possible, and those who can’t, should be granted special leave so they continue to be paid. Any employee who works in a position that place them in danger should receive hazard pay as well. This is an opportune time for legislative leaders and Gov. Roy Cooper to come up with a bipartisan solution to this matter. As with all other businesses in the state, it is imperative that state leaders do what’s right by their employees in this time. The situation at our prisons is a matter of great concern right now. DPS Commissioner of Prisons Todd Ishee announced Thursday that four inmates and four staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. The staff members work at Central, Johnston, Maury and Eastern, and the inmates are at Caledonia, Neuse and Johnston. SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins and other members of the staff and membership have worked diligently with prison leaders to make sure correctional employees’ concerns are being addressed. Watkins will host and moderate two all-staff calls with DHHS facility officials and employees in coming days. The first call will take place Saturday at 9 a.m., and the second on Wednesday, April 8, at 5 p.m. Employees can find more information and submit questions for the call here. We hope to plan similar events for other departments in the near future. Finally, everyone could use a little inspiration right now. Here's a great song from our last convention, sung by the choir from Southern Wayne High School in Dudley. Thank you to all of you for your hard work in this crisis. We Will Rise up!
Other items of interest to state employees and retirees: Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina announced on Thursday that all out-of-pocket costs associated with COVID-19 treatment will be waived. This includes treatment for all State Health Plan members. Be sure to get your news from a trusted source. The News & Observer put together a good rundown of daily information here. Most other papers are doing similar things. Continue to keep State Treasurer Dale Folwell in your thoughts and prayers as he battles the virus. His office announced today that he was released from the hospital after a brief stay. He did not require a ventilator at any point during his stay. Folwell’s office assured everyone that retirement checks would be mail as scheduled despite the virus, and has set up this page for retirees for more information. Looking for professional development opportunities while you're stuck at home? N.C. State's McKimmon Center has lots of online opportunities here. SEANC is currently out of hand sanitizers, but we have placed an order which hopefully will arrive soon and we can resume our deliveries to worksites.
Beware of Coronavirus Scams As many Americans are social distancing and working from home, they may have found themselves answering calls from unknown phone numbers in anticipation of a work-related call. Scammers are working harder during these times of uncertainty by preying on the vulnerable. From offering student debt forgiveness to COVID-19 test kits to the lowering of interest rates, scammers are using illegal robocalls to take advantage of people. Below are some tips to help with the influx of scamming calls: Hang up on robocalls and don’t press any numbers Don’t respond to emails or texts regarding checks from the government Don’t click on links from unknown sources Disregard offerings of home test kits for COVID-19 Avoid “Cash app flipping” where a person offers to donate you money via Cash App, Venmo, Paypal or Zelle, but requests money for verification Make sure the charities you are donating to have been vetted through Charity Navigator or CharityWatch Please report scams at ftc.gov/complaint
Over 19 million Americans have fallen victim to identity theft since January 1, 2019. Make sure you are protected by enrolling in InfoArmor Identity Protection today. SEANC members pay $9.95/month per individual or $17.95/month per family.
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www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | © 2020
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Friday, April 10, 2020
Tell the governor, your legislators to support hazard pay, safe working conditions SEANC is the one organization speaking out for hazard pay for state employees on the frontlines. Bottom line: Anyone who is a mandatory employee and cannot practice social distancing measures should receive hazard pay. We’ve heard from many employees in different agencies who deserve it. This week, SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins asked the House Select Committee on COVID-19 for bipartisan support (video below) for hazard pay for state employees who are unable to practice social distancing at work. She sent a letter to Gov. Roy Cooper, Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore on April 4 on the same issue. SEANC’s efforts have already made an impact. The Department of Public Safety notified employees this week that they would receive a small raise from existing funding. While it’s a start, it’s not enough. These employees deserve time-and-ahalf compensation for the dangers they are facing. The situation is also dire for DMV workers who continue to work directly with the public. SEANC has spoken up for DMV workers in talks with OSHR, in legislative committees, and in the media. Following SEANC’s concerted efforts, Cooper, Berger and Moore made a bipartisan decision to effectively suspend vehicle inspections until this crisis subsides. More needs to be done to protect these and all other state workers. We can’t stop now. Governor Cooper and legislative leaders have heard from SEANC. Now they must hear from you. Click here or below to send them an email asking for support for hazard pay for employees in harm’s way. Be sure to include your personal story as well.
CLICK HERE TO STAND UP FOR HAZARD PAY!
Other news stories and items of note this week for state employees and retirees include: WRAL covered SEANC's push for hazard pay, as did WUNC Not all non-mandatory employees are allowed to work from home. WBTV reporter Nick Ochsner reported on continued inmate transfers by the prison system. SEANC's effort to stop this led directly to DPS's announcement of a 14-day moratorium on transfers Tuesday. The state announced Monday that seven inmates had tested positive for COVID-19. There has been no further update since then. State Treasurer Dale Folwell detailed his own bout with COVID-19 in this extended interview with Spectrum News' Tim Boyum. We're glad to have him back fighting for state employees and retirees. Information was released on when stimulus checks should arrive from the federal government SEANC Retiree Council Chairman Benny Brigman sent out this list of helpful links to help retirees during the crisis.
SEANC cares, and is here to help! SEANC’s Member Relations team stands ready to assist members with any question or concern they may have in this time of need. Click here to send us your thoughts, and a team member will get back with you to find a solution. You can also send an email to seanccares@seanc.org.
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SECU offers loan assistance If you are experiencing a financial hardship related to COVID-19, the Credit Union has a variety of programs available to help eligible members who need a new loan or payment extensions on an existing SECU mortgage, vehicle, credit card or unsecured personal loan.
Stay tuned to SEANC Social Media for updates
www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | © 2020
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Friday, April 17, 2020
COVID-19 outbreak at prison highlights dangers for frontline SEANC continues to be the one voice standing up for state employees on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis. Today Wayne County reported that testing of the inmate population at Neuse Correctional in Goldsboro turned up 149 cases of COVID-19. SEANC is working with the Department of Public Safety to ensure testing for correctional staff at Neuse and all other prisons. We also continue to advocate for hazard pay for all employees who are unable to practice social distancing on their jobs. If you haven't already, please click here to send your legislators and the governor an email telling them why you feel it is needed. If you’ve already sent your legislators an email, sign our petition calling on state leaders to grant hazard pay to all state employees working on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. CLICK HERE TO STAND UP FOR HAZARD PAY!
SEANC cares, and is here to help! SEANC’s Member Relations team stands ready to assist members with any question or concern they may have in this time of need. Click here to send us your thoughts, and a team member will get back with you to find a solution. You can also send an email to seanccares@seanc.org.
Submit a question View FAQs
SEANC stops attempt to scare retirees on social media SEANC Retiree Council Chairman Benny Brigman called out a group calling itself "Retirees First" this week for spreading uninformed nonsense and halftruths through social media in order to confuse and frighten state retirees regarding Medicare Advantage plans for 2020. After an investigation by WRAL’s Travis Fain, the group has disappeared. We’re confident that similar attempts to gather information for the coming election are in the works. Be careful what you share and what you believe on social media. Always get your news from trusted sources, like SEANC!
SECU offers loan assistance If you are experiencing a financial hardship related to COVID-19, the Credit Union has a variety of programs available to help eligible members who need a new loan or payment extensions on an existing SECU mortgage, vehicle, credit card or unsecured personal loan.
SEANC now offers easy, affordable Lifetime Insurance Coverage with cash-value growth through Mass Mutual! Click the button below for more information and to fill out and submit the online form:
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www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | © 2020
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Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™ Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails. View this email online. 1621 Midtown Place Raleigh, NC | 27609 US This email was sent to . To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
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