August 2021 Scoop

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Aug. 6, 2021

House expected to announce budget proposal Monday The budget process is expected to heat up again next week, as House leaders are slated to unveil their proposal on Monday. SEANC lobbyists continue to meet with budget writers to make sure state employees and retirees are recognized for their hard work during the pandemic with meaningful pay increases. We're hearing that the proposal will be much better than the Senate's plan.

If you haven't already, please contact your representative to let them know that now is not the time to be stingy! The state is drowning in cash, with more than $6 billion in one-time funding available. Some state employees haven't received a raise in two years, and retirees have waited even longer for a true COLA. Once the proposal is released, SEANC will alert you of the details on Facebook.

We may also ask you to contact your representatives again throughout the week should the need arise. Stay tuned!

SEANC's Montgomery awarded Leadership NC scholarship

SEANC Second Vice President Kirk Montgomery has been awarded SEANC’s sponsorship to join the upcoming class of Leadership NC, a two-year program aimed at building the next generation of state leaders. ​Montgomery, a member of District 25, has 25 years of state service and is a 24-year SEANC member. He is the Director of Information Technology for the City of Mebane. He has served at both the district and state levels including SEANC Second Vice President, General Treasurer, and Piedmont Regional Representative.

Each year, Leadership North Carolina (LNC) selects a class of 50-60 current and emerging leaders from across the state through a competitive application process. Participants attend 6 two-day sessions between October and May 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.

MEMBERSHIP Don't forget our awesome recruiting incentives:​ Recruiters receive $20 for every new member recruited.

Send us the name and contact info for a possible new member. If they sign up, you get $20.

CHECK OUT MEMBERSHIP EVENTS & INCENTIVES>>

DISCOUNTS

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BENEFITS

Boston Mutual Accident Insurance

Accidents happen. While many health insurance plans will cover most of the major expenses, you could still be left with out-of-pocket expenses such as copayments, deductibles, transportation and lodging costs, and emergency room expenses. Group Accident Coverage from Boston Mutual complements your medical coverage by providing you with a benefit payment for covered medical services once your coverage is effective. This payment can be used as you see fit, especially to help with the out-of-pocket expenses you may incur as a result of an accident.

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Aug. 13, 2021

House passes budget with pay raises, bonuses The N.C. House of Representatives passed its budget proposal Thursday that improved on the Senate’s plan but still fell short of addressing all the needs of state employees and retirees.

The House budget includes raises and bonuses for state employees as well as a 2% bonus for retirees in both years (see below). It also fully funds the retirement system and State Health Plan.

SEANC was successful in lobbying House budget writers to amend the budget to fund a 3% raise for EHRA non-faculty employees making less than $95,000 per year. These employees were left out of the original proposal completely.

We will be working with members of the conference committee to ensure these employees receive at least the 5% raise over two years as other state employees.

The budget dance is not over. Conferees from the Senate and House will now meet to hash out the differences between their two proposals. There are many areas of disagreement between the plans, including -- many of which pertain to state employees and retirees. That compromise budget will then be sent to the governor for his signature.

The whole process is expected to last into September.

A major issue of disagreement between the House and Senate budgets is the reorganization of the Department of Corrections into its own cabinet-level agency. This is a critical change needed to ensure the safety of correctional employees. The Senate budget rightly included the provision to separate corrections from the Department of Public Safety, but the House did not.

SEANC has had conversations with both sides about the importance of this change.

SEANC's lobbyists worked with Democrats to offer an amendment to turn the one-time 2% bonus in the House budget into a true recurring 2% COLA, but the amendment was ruled out of order. We will continue to press for a true COLA throughout this process, and we need your help. Please click below to let your legislators know retirees deserve a real raise.

Contact your legislators

MEMBERSHIP

SEANC gains 100 new members in Mountain swing!

SEANC made a swing through Western N.C. this week, working with District 2 and District 6 to host events at Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center and Broughton Hospital in Morganton. In total, around 100 new members chose to empower themselves by joining SEANC! If you would like for SEANC to make a stop at your worksite, click here to let us know!

CHECK OUT MEMBERSHIP EVENTS & INCENTIVES>> Don't forget our awesome recruiting incentives:​ Recruiters receive $20 for every new member recruited.

Send us the name and contact info for a possible new member. If they sign up, you get $20.

DISCOUNTS

SEANC members will receive $25 off their next move. Undergrads moving provides labor-only residential moving services that have earned them a 5-star reputation. Click on the button below for the promo code.

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BENEFITS

Are you prepared for the unexpected? Aflac BenExtend is a wide-ranging benefit plan, designed to help ease financial stress of critical illness, accident or hospital stay with benefits for you, spouse and/or children for: · Hospital Admission Benefit · Critical Illness Benefit · Life Insurance Benefit · 24/7 Telephonic Counseling Benefit Aflac pays cash benefits directly to you, regardless of your health insurance coverage. This means that you will have added financial resources to help with medical costs or ongoing living expenses such as rent or mortgage, utility bills, groceries and more.

Learn more or enroll now at seanc.org/aflac.

All SEANC members including retirees are eligible for this benefit!

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REMINDERS

TWEET OF THE WEEK

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August 20, 2021

Conferees appointed to hash out state budget As expected, the Senate voted Tuesday afternoon not to concur with the House’s state budget proposal. Conferees from both chambers have been appointed and some talks have begun towards a final compromise.

The SEANC Government Relations team reiterated budget priorities for our members – a true retiree COLA, separating the Department of Corrections from the Department of Public Safety, finding money for raises for EHRA nonfaculty employees of the university system without robbing the State Health Plan appropriation (these employees were completely left out of the House proposal), and expanding the Correctional Officer step pay plan to all correctional employees – in talks with legislative leaders and their staff this week.

This week legislators focused on redistricting, gaming and legalizing medicinal marijuana. We will be prepared for budget talks to pick back up next week.

Senate Leader Phil Berger has publicly indicated that he anticipates final budget votes on Sept. 9.

We will keep members posted as information becomes available and ask that you reach out to conferees and tell them how important it is that they fund state employee and retiree budget items.

List of budget conferees

Members in Western N.C. impacted by

massive flooding following Fred Some members in the western part of the state are dealing with massive flooding as a result of Tropical Storm Fred. District 2 member Cindy Crawford and her husband, Mike, suffered a huge loss Tuesday when the floodwaters swept their home and all of their possessions away, including their dog.

Cindy and her son Will were not at home at the time, but Mike and their son Levi both were forced to cling to a tree. Thankfully, her family survived.

District 2 Chairman Cliff Johnson, the Western Region Representative on the Executive Board, has set up a GoFundMe page to help the Crawfords through this difficult time. If you would like to contribute, please click the button below.

Visit the GoFundMe page

DISCOUNTS

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MEMBERSHIP CHECK OUT MEMBERSHIP EVENTS & INCENTIVES>> Don't forget our awesome recruiting incentives:​ Recruiters receive $20 for every new member recruited.

Send us the name and contact info for a possible new member. If they sign up, you get $20.

BENEFITS

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August 27, 2021

SEANC lobbying team focuses on budget priorities The Senate and House wrapped up some miscellaneous bills and conference reports this week. All conferee work (a joint committee established to resolve budget disagreements) is happening behind closed doors. The SEANC Government Relations team has focused on lobbying each conferee and urging them to address our members’ priorities listed below.

2021 SEANC State Budget Priorities A true retiree cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) Separating the Department of Corrections from the Department of Public Safety Finding money for raises for EHRA non-faculty employees of the university system without using the State Health Plan appropriation (these employees were completely left out of the House proposal) Expanding the Correctional Officer step pay plan to all correctional employees State Health Plan will no longer waive COVID-19 costs Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, which administers the State Health Plan (SHP), has announced that it will no longer waive costs associated with treatment for COVID-19. To date, the state health plan has paid $175 million for testing and vaccination efforts without any reimbursement.

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MEMBERSHIP This week, SEANC staff and volunteers recruited 30 new members in the Charlotte area. Events were held at all of the Charlotte and Huntersville DMV locations, Probation and Parole office and the Mecklenburg County courthouse.

If you would like a visit from SEANC to your agency or worksite, click here to let us know.

CHECK OUT MEMBERSHIP EVENTS & INCENTIVES>> Don't forget our awesome recruiting incentives:​ Recruiters receive $20 for every new member recruited.

Send us the name and contact info for a possible new member. If they sign up, you get $20.

BENEFITS

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REMINDERS

TWEET OF THE WEEK

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