SPOTLIGHT STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CAROLINA
BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING
JULY 26-27, 2019
TOP 3 TAKEAWAYS
1 Convention is just 5 weeks away! The theme for the 36th Annual SEANC Convention is "Rise Up, Move Forward" Board members will meet at the Sheraton in Greensboro on Wednesday, Sept. 4, and the convention will get under way the next day! This year's Community Service Project will be a cash call to support the Fallen Member/Disaster Relief Fund. Don't forget to bring your district checkbooks. Tickets for the Saturday Banquet can be reserved by Aug. 14 at a cost of $35 each. Delegate changes can be made until Aug. 26 by contacting Tiffany Woodard. Changes after then must be made at the information booth at convention.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES • August 14 Reserve banquet tickets Submit remembrance info/photo • August 15 Submit handouts/promotional items for review • August 23 Banquet ticket payment due
Delegates/guests should wear identification/wristbands at all times. At this year's convention, delegates will consider whether to continue SEANC's relationship with Service Employees International Union or start the process to attempt to disaffiliate. This issue will be discussed on Thursday. Delegates should read all documents found on the "Member only" section of the website (seanc.org/member-only) and come to the convention prepared to debate the matter.
2 State Budget Update
The House and Senate have agreed on a budget that gives most state employees and retirees the largest two-year pay increase in a decade (5%) and a 1% bonus for retirees. Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the plan because it didn’t contain Medicaid expansion, putting our raises and bonuses in jeopardy. He took the unprecedent step of issuing a “counterproposal” that included a huge 9.2% increase for teachers. The stalemate may result in the legislature leaving Raleigh without a budget in place, meaning NO RAISES AND NO BONUSES at all for state employees and retirees! SEANC has not taken an official stance on Medicaid, but losing raises and bonuses is unacceptable. SEANC is working with legislators to insert into a technical corrections bill to the budget language that would provide another $50 million to extend the 5% raise to all university staff as well. Members should reach out to their legislators by visiting seanc.org/engage to tell them to support a veto override.
3 Clear Pricing Project Update State Treasurer Dale Folwell has signed up more than 27,000 to the plan, but hospitals continue to hold out. Folwell has increased reimbursement rates up to 196% of Medicare rates. Though not ideal, the plan will still save $166 million for taxpayers and $34 million for plan members. Affordable Healthcare for North Carolina, a group created by SEANC for this fight, has launched an advertising campaign featuring Vidant Health CEO Mike Waldrum, who has made himself the face of the hospital's' greed. Television ads featuring SEANC members in Eastern North Carolina are now airing on Greenville television stations. The website milliondollarmike.com has launched as well. SEANC members are encouraged to contact their local hospitals to ask if they plan to sign on to the plan. Continued on page 2