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Publication of the State Employees Association of North Carolina • August 2008 • Vol. 26 No. 4 • Circulation 55,000
SEANC Nearly Doubles Governor’s Pay Proposal by Securing 2.75% Pay Raise, 2.2% COLA By Erica Baldwin RALEIGH – Although it’s not what state employees and retirees desired from legislators, SEANC increased the governor’s recommendations by nearly 83 percent in the final budget passed on July 16. While the governor proposed only 1.5 percent pay raises and 1.2 percent retiree cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), state employees will receive a 2.75 percent or $1,100 (whichever is greater) recurring base pay raise and retirees will receive a 2.2 percent COLA due to SEANC’s lobbying efforts.
to support her, stressed how difficult it was to make ends meet with the rising costs of basic living expenses. Many members, in a sea of blue SEANC shirts, held signs reading “Ask me about my second job” and “Food and gas costs the same for all state employees.” The Senate attempted to include a provision that would allow the governor to give teachers higher raises, above the 3 percent included in the budget, if revenues exceeded projections. This effort would sidestep the typical budget process and favor one set of state employees, teachers, above the rest. SEANC lobbyists and members worked diligently with House members in support of pay equity, and the provision was removed from the final budget.
Employees making $40,000 or less will receive the $1,100. State employees receiving 3 percent pay raises include teachers, university EPA faculty and nonfaculty, and community college faculty and professional staff. Pay raises and COLAs are retroactive to July 1. Photo by erica Baldwin
Lobby Day Success During SEANC’s Member Action Team Lobby Day on June 24, nearly 250 SEANC members sweat out the 90-degree heat to share their personal commitment to public services and the need for equitable pay raises. “We do our safe every day, ey,” said District cheering crowd.
Following Thorpe’s comments, Rep. Ty Harrell (D-Wake) pumped up the crowd with his enthusiastic support of pay equity, retirement reform and collective bargaining.
“I want you to knock on these doors and say, ‘Ask me why it is that I have to have a second job. Ask me how we can reform our Jerome Hasty of Distict 23, left, and Jerry Thompson of District 43 cheer retirement plan. Ask me how fair and equion lobby day speaker Ty Harrell (D-Wake) on June 24 in Raleigh. table pay raises are the best thing for all of us,’” said Rep. Harrell. “We need to make employees – for the holidays we work, for the weekjobs to keep our communities sure that that song is heard, not by the choir, but by ends we work, all 12 months of the year. Food and but quality services cost monthe congregation. Will you help me sing it? Will you gas is high for all state employees.” 45 member Pamela Thorpe to the help me reach the members of the legislature?” “We need pay equity for all state Thorpe, whose husband and daughter were there
SEANC’s Value – Money in Your Pocket
Other lobby day speakers included SEANC President Linda Rouse Sutton, Sen. Kay Hagan (D-Guilford), Jonathan Stephenson of District 19 and SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope.
More Work to Do
FINAL BUDGET • 2.75% or $1,100 base pay raise (whichever is greater) E S • 2.2% retiree COLA EA
% 3 8INCR Governor’s Proposal • 1.5% pay raise • 1.2% retiree COLA
Though the session is over, SEANC members can make an impact this fall during the November elections. “We’re going to elect people who are committed to our values, then we’re going to hold them accountable,” Cope told the crowd on lobby day. As of press time, Employees Political Action Committee (EMPAC) members were making endorsement recommendations for statewide offices and legislative seats. EMPAC’s endorsements of state employee friendly candidates will be published in the next Reporter. ebaldwin@seanc.org