April 2021 Scoop

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Friday, April 2, 2021

Minimum wage bills filed before Spring Break SEANC’s lobbying team spent this week working on several bills as legislators rushed to finish work ahead of the General Assembly’s Spring Break. No votes will be taken next week in the House or the Senate.

Two new bills were introduced regarding a $15 minimum wage. Senate Bill 447 would raise the minimum wage for all workers (not just state employees) to $15 an hour, while Senate Bill 412 calls for the legislature to extend the state employee starting salary of $15 an hour to non-certified school employees.

SEANC worked with Republican leadership in 2017 to implement the $15 an hour for agency employees and university employees and is working with leaders again to extend

that minimum wage to public school and community college employees.

Senate Bill 355 was also introduced this past week and contains unconstitutional language that would open up employee personnel files to the public with no regard to property or due process rights. This bill is the same language that has failed in the General Assembly three times before. It would allow ANYONE full access to a state employer’s personnel file, including any comments from supervisors about disciplinary actions in real time, even though an employee’s appeal of potentially false information could take months. This could result in an employee’s personal or professional reputation being ruined based solely on an accusation. SEANC strongly opposes this bill.

State Treasurer Dale Folwell stepped up the push for House Bill 169 this week, condemning hospitals’ “Pattern of Deceit” on price transparency. H169 would allow the State Health Plan’s staff access to data on claims payments. SEANC sees this bill as essential in the continued fight to bring transparency to the plan and rein in costs. “What do North Carolina’s state employees and taxpayers pay? We don’t know,” said Treasurer Folwell. “The state hospital won’t tell the state treasurer what it’s charging to treat state employees. That’s unacceptable. We need access to our own data.”

SEANC lobbyists are lobbying members of the Senate to oppose a section of House Bill 243 as well. This bill has a section which would allow universities to cut salaries up to 20 percent for anyone making $45,000 or more. With a state surplus of more than $4 billion, this language is unnecessary. Our universities can manage their budgets without cutting salaries. SEANC does not oppose the rest of this bill but we are committed to seeing the salary cutting language removed.

Hear more about these and other bills in this week’s Legislative Update.

Bringing Humana to You (BH2U) Online Events State Health Plan Humana plan members, please join Humana for a Bringing Humana to You (BH2U) webinar event! These online meetings will be held April- June and they will help you learn more about your Humana Medicare Advantage PPO plan.

Humana representatives will share information about various educational topics, how to get involved in activities, and a deeper dive into Humana resources.

Information about these events is available on the custom Humana State Health Plan website here.

You may also register today for one of the webinars, just click here. After registering for a webinar, you will receive a registration confirmation email with instructions on how to log into the webinar on the day of the event.

Humana Group Medicare Customer Care 1-888-700-2263 (TTY:711)

Behind the Scenes with SEANC SEANC is proud to highlight the leaders who work to provide the best services to our members every day.

Membership

Flash Contest!

Show us your SEANC swag for a chance to win a $50 gift card.

Comment on this Facebook post with a picture of you with something with the SEANC logo on it for an entry in the drawing. It could be something in your office, something you're wearing, or anything else (you can even draw a picture if you want!)

Deadline for submission is Monday at 5 p.m.

Save with SEANC Insurance Reminder: You don't have to wait for open enrollment to take advantage of SEANC's Insurance programs. Visit seanc.org/insurance for more!

Benefits

Apply for the 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. Apply by April 30.

Learn more

If you would like printed copies of the Membership Guide and Insurance Guide, please contact Director of Member Relations Lynn Cote at lcote@seanc.org.

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Friday, April 9, 2021

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Tell legislators to support transparency for the State Health Plan An important vote is coming up next week on House Bill 169, which would give the state treasurer access to costs paid to providers by the State Health Plan, and WE NEED YOUR HELP! The House Pensions and Retirements Committee will consider the bill on Tuesday at 2 p.m. This is the second and final hurdle for it before a House floor vote. We need you to contact the members of the committee to tell them to support H169 to bring transparency and cost savings to state employees, retirees, and even legislators! The State Health Plan is funded by tax dollars and it is important to all North Carolinians that the Plan be able to use its own data to negotiate rates, fees and charges. Currently, this is not possible without permission from the third-party administrator -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.

Providers and insurance companies are lining up to oppose the bill because they want to keep what you’re paying for procedures a secret. SEANC is aligned with State Treasurer Dale Folwell’s assessment that it is unacceptable that state employees aren’t allowed to know what we are paying for health care. This is responsible and common-sense legislation.

Please contact the committee members to tell them to vote in favor of H169 at this week’s meeting. You can visit the committee's webpage and

click on the legislator's picture to access their contact information or download our list below.

View Committee Members Online

Download Committee Contact Information

Membership

SEANC members have been actively visiting worksites all over the state in recent weeks!

District 62 visited the U.S.S. North Carolina this week in Wilmington to deliver lunches and appreciation gifts for state employees who work there as part of the N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. And

District 58 delivered treats to workers at state agencies in and around Goldsboro, including three correctional institutions! ​If you would like for SEANC to visit your worksite, let us know!

Request a visit from SEANC

If you would like printed copies of the Membership Guide and Insurance Guide, please contact Director of Member Relations Lynn Cote at lcote@seanc.org.

Behind the Scenes with SEANC SEANC is proud to highlight the leaders who work to provide the best services to our members every day.

Save with SEANC Insurance Reminder: You don't have to wait for open enrollment to take advantage of SEANC's Insurance programs. Visit seanc.org/insurance for more!

Secure Financial Protection

for the Unexpected SEANC now offers a Final Expense/Whole Life insurance policy to members

by Mass Mutual. Final expense insurance is a type of whole life insurance designed to cover medical bills and funeral expenses when you pass. A final expense policy is also known as burial or funeral insurance and is popular with seniors.

Learn More

Benefits

SEANC is excited to partner with the University of Mount Olive (UMO) to give our members access to the Trojan Alliance Partnership, which includes scholarships to use towards all UMO degree programs. Degree programs for adult students are 100% online, making it more convenient than ever to earn your degree!

The summer semester begins May 3, 2021. Call (844) UMO-GOAL to find out how the TAP scholarship can help make the cost of attending UMO even more affordable!

Apply for the 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 twoyear training program where participants acquire the skills necessary to take the lead. Apply by April 30.

Learn more

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Friday, April 16, 2021

UNC pay cuts bill just the tip of the iceberg House Bill 243, which contains language that will allow the UNC System to cut employee salaries, passed Senate Rules yesterday and is on the calendar for a vote on the Senate floor on Monday.

This bill must be stopped. We cannot allow state employee pay cuts of any kind without a fight. Even if you do not work at UNC, we all know that what happens at one state agency will spread to others in the future. We must stop these pay cuts now.

We need you to take action! Tell Your Senator to Vote NO on pay cuts for UNC employees!

If you have already emailed your senator, thank you. Now, give them a call using the same link below.

This bill has been amended from its original state. On Wednesday, the Senate Education/Higher Education Committee voted to raise the minimum salary affected by the possible cuts to $65,000, and decrease the maximum cut from 20% to 10%. This is still not acceptable. SEANC is not open to any compromise when it comes to employee pay cuts.

In the video above, SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins explained why we still oppose this bill in a speech to the Senate Rules Committee on Thursday.

We are the only organization willing to stand up for our members on this issue, and we will not rest until this bad bill is amended.

Take Action Today

Bill to bring transparency to State Health Plan clears hurdle House Bill 169, which would allow the State Health Plan staff access to data on claims payments, cleared a hurdle this week when it received a favorable report from the House Pensions and Retirement Committee. SEANC lobbyists were on hand to present the association’s support for the change.

The bill was referred to the House Health Committee, which may prove to be a tougher challenge. It may be considered at the committee’s meeting on Tuesday.

We need you to contact the members of the committee to tell them to support H169 to bring transparency and cost savings to state employees, retirees, and even legislators! The State Health Plan is funded by tax dollars and it is important to all North Carolinians that the Plan be able to use its own data to negotiate rates, fees and charges. Currently, this is not possible without permission from the third-party administrator -- currently Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Membership

Good News! The deadline to apply for our Leadership NC grant has been extended to May 14! Watch the video above to hear all about Sherry Washington’s experiences in the program, and click here for more information on applying.

Learn more about Leadership NC

SEANC is on the road again!

The SEANC Member Relations Department is back on the road and the first stop will be in Butner! District 21 will be hosting an event at the Gazebo near the R.J. Blackley Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center (ADATC) and the Murdoch Developmental Center.

Join us on Wednesday, April 28 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. to receive information about your SEANC benefits from our Member Relations team. We are also doing a $5 gift card giveaway with three chances to win: Members bring a non-member Members get information a product If a non-member joins SEANC If you would to plan a SEANC event at your workplace, click on the button below.

Request a visit from SEANC

If you would like printed copies of the Membership Guide and Insurance Guide, please contact Director of Member Relations Lynn Cote at lcote@seanc.org.

Behind the Scenes with SEANC SEANC is proud to highlight the leaders who work to provide the best services to our members every day.

Save with SEANC Plans Reminder: You don't have to wait for open enrollment to take advantage of SEANC's Insurance programs. Visit seanc.org/insurance for more!

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Benefits

SEANC is excited to partner with the University of Mount Olive (UMO) to give our members access to the Trojan Alliance Partnership, which includes scholarships to use towards all UMO degree programs. Degree programs for adult students are 100% online, making it more convenient than ever to earn your degree!

The summer semester begins May 3, 2021. Call (844) UMO-GOAL to find out how the TAP scholarship can help make the cost of attending UMO even more affordable!

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Friday, April 23, 2021

UNC System seeks authority to cut staff pay while Board considers bonuses for chancellors SEANC’s fight against House Bill 243, which allows the UNC System to cut salaries for its employees, was a wild ride this week. The bill passed the Senate with amendments, and the House voted not to concur with those changes, meaning a conference committee will hash out the discrepancies.

On Wednesday, the UNC Board of Governors met to discuss, among other

items, an incentives plan that could result in 20% bonuses for chancellors.

Some of these chancellors make more than $600,000 a year already! This is not a good look for the system when it is telling legislators it needs to cut employee salaries to deal with a budget crunch.

SEANC District 25 Chairman James Holman spelled out SEANC’s concerns with the bill in a letter to the editor of The Daily Tar Heel. We encourage employees on all 17 campuses to voice their opinions as well!

Conferees for the Senate have yet to be appointed. We encourage members to reach out to conferees from the House, listed here, to tell them to remove language that would allow salary cuts from the bill.

SEANC Government Relations Director Suzanne Beasley explains more about H243 as well as bills on cost-of-living adjustments for retirees and the state’s Forestry division in this week’s Legislative Update.

Win $100!

Special Open Enrollment period now open!

Special enrollment for Boston Mutual's Whole Life, Critical Illness, and Accident policies will begin April 23 until May 28. Any member who calls to inquire about Boston Mutual products during this enrollment period will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Visa Gift Card!

Members that call to inquire about Boston Mutual products between April 23 May 12 will be entered into the 1st drawing and those who inquire about Boston Mutual products between May 13 - 28 will be entered into the 2nd drawing for a $100 Visa Gift Card!

Learn More!

Membership

Good News! The deadline to apply for our Leadership NC grant has been extended to May 14! Watch the video above to hear all about Sherry Washington’s experiences in the program, and click here for more information on applying.

Learn more about Leadership NC

We can't wait to see you soon!

The SEANC Member Relations Department is back on the road and the first stop will be in Butner! District 21 will be hosting an event at the Gazebo near the R.J. Blackley Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center (ADATC) and the Murdoch Developmental Center. We have missed our members and are looking forward to seeing our members and potential members again.

Join us on Wednesday, April 28 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. to receive information about your SEANC benefits from our Member Relations team. We are also doing a $5 gift card giveaway with three chances to win: Members bring a non-member Members get information a product If a non-member joins SEANC If you would to plan a SEANC event at your workplace, click on the button below.

Request a visit from SEANC

If you would like printed copies of the Membership Guide and Insurance Guide, please contact Director of Member Relations Lynn Cote at lcote@seanc.org.

Benefits

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Friday, April 30, 2021

SEANC hosts first event since pandemic began! We're ready to come to your agency!

The SEANC Member Relations Department is back on the road and helped District 21 host its first event since the pandemic began this week in Butner!

On Wednesday, SEANC members welcomed state employees and retirees at the gazebo near the R.J. Blackley Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center (ADATC) and the Murdoch Developmental Center.

We are excited to be back on the road and have an event planned next week in Raleigh, so be on the lookout for more information! If you would like to plan a SEANC event at your workplace, click on the graphic below.

Senate bill to open personnel records to the public; UNC pay cuts linger in conference There was no movement on the state budget this week, with the Senate continuing to craft its proposal behind closed doors. But SEANC’s lobbyists had more than enough on their plate with Senate Bill 355, an attempt by the N.C. Press Association to pry into state employee personnel records.

SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins spoke out against the bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on Wednesday, pointing out that it violates employees’ Constitutional rights.

The bill received a favorable report from the committee and was sent to Rules, where it was referred back to Judiciary for more work. The SEANC lobbying team has meetings scheduled with the bill's sponsor next week to discuss problems with it. We have also teamed with other employee groups to amplify our concerns.

House Bill 243 contains pay cut language for university employees. We anticipate the conference committee to meet next week to finalize the language. This bill is still a top priority, and we will likely reach out to members again to contact legislators and tell them to vote NO to cutting employees' pay.

Keep an eye on your email.

We also expect House Bill 169, which would give the State Health Plan staff access to cost data from providers, to appear in committee next week.

To hear more about these bills, watch this week’s Legislative Update.

Insurance

Win $100!

Special Open Enrollment period now open!

Special enrollment for Boston Mutual's Whole Life, Critical Illness, and Accident policies runs through May 28. Any member who calls to inquire about Boston Mutual products during this enrollment period will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Visa Gift Card!

Members that call to inquire about Boston Mutual products between April 23 May 12 will be entered into the first drawing and those who inquire about Boston Mutual products between May 13 - 28 will be entered into the second drawing for a $100 Visa Gift Card!

Learn More!

Save more with SEANC Vision Insurance SEANC offers three nationwide vision plans through Spectera that include eye exams, lenses, eyeglass frames, and contact lenses.

The enhanced plan option covers many eyeglass lens extras, such as progressive lenses. Discounts are available on non-covered cosmetic options and laser vision correction procedures.

Rates start at just $13.33 per month for the Enhanced Plan Option 1, and once the plan is in effect, there are no waiting periods. Enrollment forms received by the 10th of the month will be effective on the first of the following month.

Leadership NC Be a SEANC Leader! ​Good News! The deadline to apply for our Leadership NC grant has been extended to May 14! Watch the video to hear all about Sherry Washington’s experiences in the program, and click here for more information on applying.

Learn more about Leadership NC

If you would like printed copies of the Membership Guide and Insurance Guide, please contact Director of Member Relations Lynn Cote at lcote@seanc.org.

Benefits

Click here for instructions on downloading the PerksConnect app

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