June 2020 • Vol. 38, Issue 4
THE
REPORTER
State Employees Association of North Carolina
SEANC is your one voice during the COVID-19 Crisis The last two months have been life-changing — we have seen an unprecedented global pandemic take over our state and change the very way we work and live. And you have been fighting on the front lines to save us. The legislature returned May 18 for the short session. The expected loss of state revenue as a result of the crisis makes SEANC more important than ever. We are the one voice standing up against job cuts and furloughs, and for safer working conditions and pay for state employees, as well as retirement security.
In the last two months, SEANC has: • Secured COVID-19 testing for all employees within the walls of our prisons, as well as probation/parole and juvenile justice officers. • Fielded more than 1,000 calls and emails from members.
Legislators need to hear from you on the need for hazard pay and worker safety! If you haven’t already, please reach out to your legislator now by visiting seanc.org/engage. Amid all the extra work you’re putting in, it is easy to forget to celebrate
DPS COVID-19 testing puts burden on employees After months of lobbying from SEANC, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) finally announced plans on May 14 to test employees for COVID-19 that will place an undue burden on employees. With the announcement in mid-April of a massive outbreak of COVID-19 among inmates at Neuse Correctional in Goldsboro in addition to reports of cases at other prisons and probation/parole offices, it became clear to SEANC that personnel all over the state are in danger. At the urging of many concerned members, SEANC asked DPS officials to provide tests for all employees. DPS officials said they were unable to find enough tests kits for all employees but would welcome help from the State Health Plan. SEANC, State Treasurer Dale Folwell and the State Health Plan worked out a plan in late April to test every staff member at prisons and juvenile justice facilities, and all probation/parole staff, using mobile units to make the process accessible.
Determined to use its own vendors, the department decided to pull out of SEANC’s plan at the last minute. DPS’s plan includes using LabCorp tests and FastMed facilities around the state. Some prisons are as far as 112 miles away from the nearest FastMed testing location. “We are glad DPS is finally making an effort toward beginning testing,” said SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins. “We are truly unclear why they want to limit the testing to locations that might be far from prisons and a hindrance.” Fowell’s plan could have started in midApril. Instead, correctional personnel have spent that time worrying over whether they are bringing the virus home to their families. “This plan is too little, too late and will create a false sense of comfort,” said Watkins. “At the end of the day, no testing will be effective until the department stops moving inmates from facility to facility.”
• Successfully advocated for suspension on inspections to limit contact with the public by DMV employees. • Lobbied the NC General Assembly for hazard pay for any mandatory employees unable to social distance while performing their jobs.
each other. We need to share some love for our unsung heroes — the state employees on the front lines. If you know a member in your area or place of work who needs praising for going the extra mile, let us know by emailing us at jowens@seanc.org.
2020 Convention Canceled The Executive Committee voted on May 19 to cancel the 2020 SEANC Convention due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. This decision was made to allow SEANC to alert the Sheraton by a deadline of May 22 to avoid serious financial penalties. SEANC polled more than 200 active SEANC members including the Board of Governors, and the overwhelming majority expressed concerns that social distancing and other measures simply would not be possible on the order needed to keep our members safe. In the end, the only option for the Executive Committee was to cancel the event this year and postpone all Convention business until next year. This includes postponing elections for SEANC officer positions. The current group of statewide officers and committee members will remain in place until September 2021.
PUBLIC POLICY State revenues take a hit By State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell
As North Carolina struggles with a health crisis, an economic virus is causing governments at all levels to struggle with financial stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are reminded of a fundamental economic principle. The movement of money isn’t restricted by borders. It goes where it’s invited and stays where it’s welcome. That’s worrisome in the current environment for North Carolina, which has long borders with multiple states. North Carolinians who live within driving distance of a neighboring state whose stores, restaurants and service industries are open for business will travel there to get a haircut or enjoy a family meal not available at home. The longer some businesses remain closed and other businesses are not allowed to efficiently operate, tourists aren’t flocking to the beaches and mountains. Business and sales tax revenue that governments depend on is dropping. Sewer and water district fees are waning because consumption of utility services is falling. Meanwhile, expenses remain the same, putting stress on the state and
local governments to pay their bills. Those include bond debts approved and monitored by the Local Government Commission in the Department of State Treasurer (DST), their contributions to the North Carolina Retirement Systems and payments to the State Health Plan. The good news is nearly 1,000,000 public workers and retirees don’t need to worry about their hard-earned pensions in addition to handling the stress of a volatile economy. The Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System and Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System remain financially sound. There are good reasons for confidence; pension checks totaling $530 million will continue to be delivered on time every month. Research by Moody’s Investor Services determined that North Carolina’s pension plan was the best funded among the 50 states. Our taxpayers and members who pay into the system have the lowest financial burden because of lower unfunded liabilities. Last year, a stress test conducted by The Pew Charitable Trusts determined North Carolina’s pension plan is better
THE
REPORTER
State Employees Association of NC 1621 Midtown Place • Raleigh, NC 27609 919-833-6436 • 800-222-2758 • www.seanc.org
Jonathan Owens, Editor-In-Chief • Beth Dew, Managing Editor
positioned to remain solvent in tough economic times than most public pension plans. That has been borne out in this pandemic. The plan’s investment returns are State Treasurer down only 3% for Dale R. Folwell, CPA the calendar year, outperforming the market and many other public pension plans. This is due to our conservative investment strategy as well as that of treasurers before me. Meanwhile, State Health Plan members will receive COVID-19 testing and treatment when they need it. The plan is paying for members’ COVID-19 tests, and waiving deductibles, copayments and coinsurance for members diagnosed and treated for the virus. As DST continues to safeguard the interests of those who teach, protect and otherwise serve, there is hope North Carolina can escape the economic doldrums faster than most states. We have $2.5 billion in surplus budget funds, $1.2 billion in the rainyday reserve fund, half of the $4 billion in federal CARES Act relief money still unappropriated and $4 billion in the unemployment trust fund. That’s a healthy antidote to this economic virus.
ADVERTISING POLICY SEANC accepts advertising material from companies and persons seeking to communicate with SEANC members. Acceptance of this advertising does not indicate SEANC approval or endorsement of any representation that the message, product or service is as represented by the advertiser. SEANC accepts no responsibility and shall not be liable for any use of or reliance on any such information, product or service. SEANC is a private entity and is under no obligation to carry advertisements of any nature, political or otherwise, that may be viewed as contrary to the interests of the association and its membership. © Copyright 2020 SEANC. All rights reserved.
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THE REPORTER • June 2020
The Reporter, USPS 009-852 (ISSN 1069 2142), is published six times a year in the months of February, April, June, July, September and November for $2.50 per year, per member, by the State Employees Association of North Carolina, Inc., 1621 Midtown Place, Raleigh, NC 27609. Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh and additional offices. POSTMASTER, Send address changes to: THE REPORTER, 1621 Midtown Place, Raleigh, NC 27609.
RETIREE FOCUS NC Retirement System Communication Updates Email support
No email, no problem!
The NC Retirement System made a transition from phone support to email support in March. The best way for members to send an email is to login to their secure ORBIT account. Previously, this option was only available for active members, but we made an update to the system and retirees can also send a secure email through their ORBIT account. This will verify the member and we can respond quicker.
For those members without email, the automated system is available for members to use to find out important information and statuses: 877-627-3287 and 919-814-4081. Member voicemail messages will be sent to a counselor. Emails and a member who left a voicemail message will receive a return call from 877-6273287. Our current turnaround time is 2-3 business days.
The best way for retirees and employees to submit a request is through their secure ORBIT account. • Login to ORBIT • Select the Reach A Counselor tab • Choose a topic • Type in your note, comment or request • Press send
One-on-one virtual counselors, webinars and COVID-19 webpage
2020 pension pay dates
Education counselors continue to meet with members one-on-one in a virtual setting or by phone. Our variety of on-demand webinars are available for employees and employers. Webinar attendance is available to the first 500 registrants. For a current schedule of live events for employers and members, go to myncretirement.com/non-retirees/ current-employees/nearing-retirement/ retirement-planning-conferences. To register for Understanding your medical plan options when you become Medicare-eligible webinar, go to
Dates pension checks are direct deposited to your bank account or checks are mailed: June 25, July 24, August 25, September 25, October 23, November 25 and December 23.
shpnc.org/about-us/upcoming-events. Click on Register Online next to the webinar you wish to attend. To better serve our members, we implemented a single webpage where they can learn more about the measures we have taken and current information on services, processing and payments. We continue to provide information on payments for retirees, updates on the CARES Act relief options, frequently asked questions and critical information on business operations and schedules. Go to: myncretirement.com/covid-19.
Contact NC Retirement Systems Contact NC Retirement Systems at 877-627-3287 or 919-814-4081 with address and email updates, questions about your retirement check or deductions. Information from the Office of the State Treasurer.
Deceptive Facebook ads target state retirees In late April, members brought to SEANC’s attention a group calling itself “Retirees First” that was spreading uninformed nonsense and half-truths regarding retiree healthcare. The group disappeared once SEANC alerted the press and informed members of their fraud, but not before spending more than $40,000 on Facebook advertising to confuse and frighten state retirees regarding Medicare Advantage plans for 2020. The truth is, the new Medicare
Advantage plans will save the State Health Plan AND retirees lots of money. Folwell estimates the plan will save $590 million over the three-year contract. All base plans will be premium-free for retirees and their dependents, and expanded coverage will be around half as expensive as they were in 2019. It remains unclear who funded the group. State Treasurer Dale Folwell has spent his three years in office keeping his promises to us — keeping premiums and costs low with the State Health Plan and
wrestling control of the retirement system away from Wall Street. It’s no surprise that he has made rich enemies who are coming for him in this election. This is likely just the first of many seedy groups aiming to take down Folwell through deception. Do not trust these ads or share your phone number or email address with these groups. If you do, expect your phone and email inbox to flooded with messages as November approaches. THE REPORTER • June 2020
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MEMBERS IN ACTION SEANC cares in this time of need represent only a fraction of the actions taken by the SEANC Cares team. We are proud to stand up and advocate for our state employees and retirees in tough times like this. As of press time, our SEANC Cares team has fielded over 1,000 member calls and emails. We stand ready to assist members with questions or concerns they may have at their workplaces.
Even before the mandated face masks and social distancing, SEANC Cares was in place — boosting morale and getting folks essential supplies. Within the last several months, SEANC has provided thousands of hand sanitizer bottles, masks and other supplies to state employees throughout North Carolina. The photographs on these two pages
President Jimmy Davis delivered hand sanitizer and other supplies to worksites in Rutherford County.
SUBMITTED BY DEBORAH HARNEY
District 22 recently donated disposable masks to correctional officers who oversee inmate workers at the Correction Enterprise meat plant in Harnett County. Pictured is District 22 Chair Deborah Harney.
Send an email to seanccares@seanc.org and a member of our staff will help in any way possible. Also, we need your help to grow. Please encourage the nonmembers you know to join online at seanc.org/join. Photos of individuals without masks were taken before wearing masks was required.
District 3 Chairwoman Anne Castro and District 3 members Sandy Wood and Rhonda Robinson provided hand sanitizer and some clear bags to the staff at Mountain View Correctional on April 23.
District 1 delivered hand sanitizer, snacks and information packets to the Clerk of Courts Offices, Probation and Parole Offices and Juvenile Justice Offices in Jackson, Macon, Cherokee and Swain Counties on May 6.
SUBMITTED BY JOHNNY DAVISON
SUBMITTED BY HENRY BELADA
Executive Director Ardis Watkins (right) delivered hand sanitizer on March 25 to District 58 member Daisy Stancill to distribute to personnel at Neuse Correctional in Goldsboro.
District 6 Chairwoman Sonya Akbar (far right) and Member Relations Representative Johnny Davison (far left) delivered hand sanitizer on March 19 to Vicki Causby (center) at Broughton Hospital for the staff to use as they screen employees entering the facility.
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THE REPORTER • June 2020
District 7 gave 350 hand sanitizer bottles to J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center (JIRDC) Volunteer Services Department to give out at check points. Special thanks to Debbie Chadwick and her staff: Connie Clark for applying labels, Brandy Fender for filling the bottles, Jamie Holden and Debra Workman for cleaning the bottles and putting on the tops.
Interim Director of Member Services CJ Stephens delivered care baskets to Wake County Probation and Parole on March 27.
District 2 member Martha Ramsey delivers hand sanitizer and chips to Madison and Yancey County Probation Parole, Juvenile Justice, and Clerk of Courts Offices. Madison County PPO Officer (and District 2 member) James Whitt gladly received the sanitizer and chips from Ms. Ramsey with a big thank you!
Retiree Council Chair Benny Brigman delivered hand sanitizer to Greene County prisons on March 25.
District 24 donated snacks to staff at Columbus Correctional Institution on May 18.
Member Relations Representative Dennis Hartley delivered snacks and hand sanitizer to Southern Correctional in Troy on March 23.
District 59 donated masks to Countryside Senior Village in Pikeville.
Western Regional Representative and District 2 Chairman Cliff Johnson (left) picked up hand sanitizer from Eda Rhyne Distilling Company in Asheville. The hand sanitizer will go to agencies that are in Districts 2, 3, 4 and 5.
District 27 delivered hand sanitizer and snacks to Community Corrections in Durham on April 30.
HENRY BELADA
District 42 Chairwoman Shirley Bell delivered hand sanitizer to workers at the state lab in Raleigh on April 30.
SUBMITTED JANET BUNCH
SUBMITTED BY SHIRLEY BELL
SUBMITTED BY JOHNNY DAVISON
District 9 obtained, bottled and donated hand sanitizer and donated them to the officers on Cooper Street in Statesville in May.
On behalf of District 42, Interim Director of Member Services CJ Stephens dropped off a goody basket with member Virginia Sanders on March 19 for DHHS Disability Determination Services employees who can’t work from home.
SUBMITTED BY KATHY MERRITT
SUBMITTED BY CLIFF JOHNSON
MEMBERS IN ACTION
District 61 donated boxes full of snack bags to Sampson Correctional.
SEANC delivered snacks and hand sanitizer to employees at Southern Correctional in Troy and NC Correctional Institute for Women on March 23.
District 7 donated mask ear protector straps to JIRDC and made a donation to the STEM Club. District 7 member Alicia Wilson is pictured.
THE REPORTER • June 2020
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Doug Sutton
Insurance Services
Convenient Access – Contactless Delivery
Providing quality and affordable insurance to SEANC members for over 40 years. We appreciate doing business with you!
Please call us if we can be of service.
919-836-9993 or Toll Free: 1-800-788-7771 dougsutton@dougsuttonins.com
COVID-19 has changed the way we do things. Contactless services are more important than ever! Through Member Access at www.ncsecu.org you can perform many of the same transactions and maintenance that can be conducted at your local branch. You can also view your account statements online by signing up for E-Statements!
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THE REPORTER • June 2020
IN THE NEWS Montgomery helped implement COVID-19 tests at state lab Late last winter, Second Vice President Kirk Montgomery in his role as the NCDHHS Laboratory Information Systems (LIMS) Manager, was one of the first people in the state to become familiar with the process for COVID-19 testing. Once the outbreak came to light from Wuhan, China, Montgomery was notified that since there may be cases in the United States, a plan to cover the possibility of the virus needed to be implemented. Montgomery and his team set up and configured the digital application for testing results from COVID-19 testing kits and for securely sending these results to the CDC. The CDC sets the guidelines and specifications for COVID-19 testing. They provide the reagents that public health laboratories use to detect the virus. They also specify what extraction kits to use to isolate the viral genetic material from the rest of a patient’s sample, as well as the testing kits used to test the isolated viral genetic material for COVID-19.
To configure their app in accordance with the CDC’s guidelines, Montgomery and his team, in coordination with the laboratory specialist, ran their app through a series 2nd Vice President of test cases in a digital Kirk Montgomery testing environment. Following the laboratory manager’s approval of the app’s handling of these test cases, Montgomery sent it to the next testing environment — the User Acceptance Testing (UAT). At this stage, the test cases used involved a wider range of individuals and provided a more stringent test of the app. They also had to be able to use the app to securely send information via encrypted form to the CDC for approval that the system had sent the correct information. Once all of this was completed and approved, all associated paperwork was sent to the laboratory assistant director and then to the director for final approval. After Montgomery received the final
Know your rights Here are some important points to remember regarding COVID-19 testing: • There is no cost for testing or treatment • Agencies also have the discretion to use for the employees — The State Health up to 10 days of special “State of EmerPlan announced on April 2 that costs for gency Leave” for all employees who request COVID-19 testing and treatment would be leave due to having symptoms. covered, and associated deductibles, copay- • Employees shall be granted Administraments and coinsurance would be waived. tive Leave — CDE until the specified period • Mandatory employees may be excused of time ends or the employee becomes ill or is from work if they are isolated, quarantined, isolated by a public health official, whichever ill or subject to other public health control comes first. measures, or if they are required to care for • You cannot be retaliated against for a member of the immediate family who is being tested. State employees are isolated, quarantined or ill. protected under the Unlawful Workplace • Agencies may advance leave to employHarassment policy. All employees have the ees without adequate leave to cover right to work in an environment free from missed work time, allowing 24 months to make up the time without penalty. discrimination and harassing conduct. If you continue to have questions, please contact us at seanccares@seanc.org to fill out our form.
approval, he sent the app to the production environment where even more test cases were ran against it. Once the app passed these test cases, Montgomery and his team contacted the CDC to conduct a final test of the app. Then, finally, they were able to take their app live. Montgomery commented, “Serving the public has always been a way of life for me. It has been the foundation for what we stand for in SEANC. I have been in state and local government for roughly 28 years of my life. God has given me a mentality of serving and helping others and being a part of something that was so crucial to the health and welfare of the people of North Carolina was truly a humbling experience. I give praise to our Heavenly Father for giving me the knowledge and opportunity to be a part of something that was so important and needed. I take no credit for this. I was just happy to be there and do my part.” Montgomery is currently Mebane's Information Technology Director.
SEANC member named Warden District 5 member Carlos Hernandez was named warden at Alexander Correctional Institution in Taylorsville earlier this year. During his 28 years Carlos Hernandez with DPS, he has worked at seven different facilities, where he has progressed through the ranks to his current position as warden. “Warden Hernandez is outstanding,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “He is a consummate corrections professional with a deep knowledge of prison operations, experience at a significant number of facilities and he brings outstanding organizational, leadership and motivational skills to his new post.” THE REPORTER • June 2020
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Periodical Postage PAID Raleigh, NC 1621 Midtown Place Raleigh, NC 27609
S h o w Yo u r L o v e for Those You Love. The headlines say that life insurance companies are turning away business in response to the impact of coronavirus. Thankfully, SEANC has partnered with MassMutual to make it EASY for members to purchase quality Whole Life Insurance. Family members are eligible, too! Con tact a S EA NC Insu rance Spec ial ist for informa tion: (919) 833-6436 | (800) 222-2758, ext. 3318 ▪ No Health Requirements* / No Medical Exams ▪ Guaranteed Death Benefit ▪ Guaranteed Cash Value ▪ Guaranteed Level Premium (Will not increase!) ▪ Dividend Eligibility ▪ Convenient Payroll Deduction ▪ Permanent, Portable Policy ▪ Terminal Illness Provision
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