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Friday, February 7, 2020
Repercussions from budget stalemate already being felt Repercussions from Senate Democrats' unwillingness last month to push forward the state budget are already being felt. Case in point, the story from the News & Observer this week that the Department of Health & Human Service’s IT employees will be expected to do even more because 163 contract employees have been let go. The cut is a direct result of the budget stalemate and comes a week after news that state revenues beat expectations by $290 million so far this fiscal year. The legislature is set to return in April ahead of the short session. SEANC will continue to lobby for UNC system, community college and non-certified school personnel to receive the same 5% two-year increases as other state employees, as well as a 2% retiree bonus. We will also advocate for making those raises retroactive to July 1, 2019, so those employees and retirees will receive the full amount this year.
Goldsboro workers side with SEANC! SEANC and District 60 added 25 new members this week at an employee appreciation event (pictured) at the O'Berry NeuroMedical Treatment Center in Goldsboro! Since the beginning of 2020, SEANC has added more than 350 members from all over state government, including 176 from the Department of Public Safety and 76 from DHHS. Members have also joined from the Departments of Commerce, Cultural & Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, Labor, Public Instruction and Transportation, Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, Fayetteville State University, N.C. Central University, N.C. State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNCPembroke, Western Carolina University, Central Piedmont Community College, Edgecombe Community College, Isothermal Community College, the Administrative Offices of the Courts, the State Auditor’s office, State Employees Credit Union, the State Health Plan, the State Treasurer’s office, UNC Hospitals and school systems in Buncombe, Cabarrus, Cherokee, Cleveland, Durham, Pasquotank, Hertford, Lenoir, Orange, Richmond, Robeson, Rowan, Sampson, Stanly, Union and Vance counties. We are currently conducting two contests – one for recruiting new members and one for holding an event – which end on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. If you would like for a SEANC representative to visit your worksite or agency, please click here to let us know!
Members encouraged to attend forums on Mission-HCA merger The independent monitoring group charged with holding HCA Healthcare to the promises it made when it acquired Mission Health last year held three public forums last week in Western North Carolina, and have four more planned, beginning Monday in Asheville. State employees and retirees in the region should attend the meeting near them and urge HCA to do the right thing by state employees, retirees and their families by joining the Clear Pricing Project.
Now’s your chance to prove it. SEANC’s Emerging Leaders Council has established a scholarship program to allow one SEANC member the opportunity to participate in Leadership North Carolina (LNC). Participation in LNC requires a two-year commitment. Only active SEANC members working full time for the state are eligible to apply. Visit seanc.org/leadership-ncscholarship for details.
www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | © 2020
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Friday, February 14, 2020
Folwell has retirement system headed in the right direction State retirees received good news at the most recent Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement Systems Board of Trustees meeting. Actuarial data shows Treasurer Dale Folwell’s management of the pension system is moving in the right direction. The fund's return on investments was 7.5 percent higher than expected (actual return for 2019 was 14.5 percent). Folwell’s efforts to cut fees paid to Wall Street and make strong investments are starting to show and the plan is now more than 90 percent funded. Folwell wrote a column in this month’s Reporter to explain how and when COLAs are granted. Cost-of-living adjustments can only be recommended by the Treasurer and the Board if returns on investments reach a certain amount dictated by law. The General Assembly could then vote to approve the recommended COLA, however, previous treasurers invested more of the pension fund in risky alternative funds and paid exorbitant fees to Wall Street money managers making it impossible for a COLA recommendation. It will take time for Folwell to undo years of bad decisions made by previous state treasurers, but he has been steadily chipping away at each contract as they come to term and realizing savings for the system. While SEANC believes a true cost-of-living adjustment is always the most desirable outcome for retirees, this year, given the lackluster performance of the fund and contracts signed under previous treasurers, along with a $42 million unfunded liability, it is just not possible. SEANC continues to work with legislators to secure a one-time bonus of at least 2%, using surplus revenue.
www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | © 2020
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Friday, February 21, 2020
Deadline approaching to apply for Leadership NC Scholarship Ready to take the next step into a leadership role in your job, your community or SEANC? Now's your chance. SEANC’s Emerging Leaders Council has established a scholarship program to allow one SEANC member the opportunity to participate in Leadership North Carolina (LNC), a two-year training program where participants acquire the skills necessary to take the lead. Each year, Leadership North Carolina selects a class of 50-60 current and emerging leaders from across the state through a competitive application process. Participants attend six two-day sessions between Oct. 2020 and May 2021 in various locations across the state where they learn about the challenges and opportunities facing North Carolina, with a focus on building networks and turning knowledge into action to benefit their communities and the state. Participation in LNC requires a two-year commitment. Only active SEANC members working full time for the state are eligible to apply. Selection as the Emerging Leaders/LNC scholarship finalist does not constitute automatic admission into LNC. The individual selected will be required to submit an application to LNC and be accepted for admission into the program. Scholarship funds will cover the cost of tuition, meals, travel and lodging. Apply online at seanc.org/leadership-nc-scholarship.
www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | © 2020
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Friday, February 28, 2020
Primary Election Day is Tuesday! Early voting open through Saturday North Carolina is one of 14 states that will hold its primary on Tuesday, March 3, in what has become known as Super Tuesday. EMPAC has made endorsements in seven key legislative primaries and the Democratic nominations for U.S. Senate and Congressional District 2 (see below). State Treasurer Dale Folwell does not have a primary opponent but was endorsed by EMPAC as well. There's still time to vote early and avoid the lines on Election Day. Early voting sites across the state will be open today and Saturday. If you can't make it by then, be sure you know your polling place for Tuesday by looking it up here. And please, go vote and make sure your voice is heard!
SEANC headed west for food truck event in Morganton Did you know that Morganton has one of the largest concentrations of state employees and retirees in the state? Districts 5, 6 and 7 will host an Employee Appreciation event at the State Employees' Credit Union on Enola Road in Morganton on March 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature a food truck, and state employees and retirees are invited to come out, enjoy a meal and hear all about the State Health Plan, retirement, pay raises and other legislation, as well as our many insurance products and discounts in the area! If you would like for SEANC to host a similar event in your area, please contact us by clicking here.
www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | Š 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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