Senate budget inadequate for employees, retirees
The N.C. Senate passed a low-ball budget proposal on June 25 that included meager raises for most state employees and no increase for retirees.
In addition to the pay changes exhibited in the table to the right, the Senate’s plan also called for the creation of a Department of Adult Correction to separate prison operations into its own cabinet level agency.
It’s important to note that the Senate proposal is one step in the budget process. The House will release its own proposal in the coming weeks, then the two chambers will negotiate a compromise through a conference committee.
The budget process is likely to last well past the July 1 start of the new fiscal biennium and through the summer, with some legislators signaling that compromise won’t be reached until August at the earliest.
SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins expressed the association’s frustration with the Senate’s budget in a statement when it was released.
“There is no excuse to be stingy this
N.C. Senate Proposal Gov. Cooper’s Proposal
• 3% pay raises over two years for most state employees, teachers, UNC and Community College staff
• 7% average pay increase for corrections officers and a new salary schedule
• $13/hour minimum wage for non-certified public school and Comm. College employees
• Employees earning less than $75,000 annually and all law enforcement, correctional officers and staff, and employees at 24-hour facilities receive a $1,500 bonus
• Employees earning more than $75,000 annually receive a $1,000 bonus
• No cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) or bonus for retirees
year,” Watkins said. “SEANC is totally perplexed why the Senate proposed insignificant raises and shutting out retirees when the State is drowning in money. If ever there was a time to give significant raises, this is the year.”
“That said, we applaud the equitable treatment of state employees and teachers
Most state employees
• 5% pay raise over two years
• $1,000 bonus in each of the next two years UNC, Community College, and non-certified school personnel
• 7.5% pay raise over two years
• $4,000 bonus over two years
• Minimum $15 wage for non-certified school personnel
Teachers
• more than 10% pay raise over two years
• $4,000 in bonuses over two years
Retirees
• 2% COLA
• 2% bonus in EACH of the next two years
and a higher minimum wage for school employees as those are important principles SEANC has fought hard for and are happy to see included,” she added. “As the budget process continues, SEANC will fight to see suitable raises for the dedicated public servants and retirees who serve the people of our state.”
‘Hybrid’ SEANC Convention to be held in person, virtually
The SEANC Board of Governors voted at its May 22 meeting to hold an inperson convention this year, with access to an online version for those delegates who wish not to attend.
The event will be held at the Sheraton Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. It is scheduled for Sept. 8-11, 2021.
Delegates need to choose whether or not they will attend the convention in person by July 24, when districts must submit this information to the SEANC Central Office. Delegates will not be permitted to attend both in-person and online.
All items on the agenda requiring
votes will take place on Friday, Sept. 10. Delegates who attend virtually will only attend Friday’s session. Online attendees will be able to vote in election and on other important matters that arise.
The theme of this year’s convention will be “Driven to Succeed.”
SEANC fights off second attempt to publicize disciplinary actions
A once-dead attempt by the state’s media outlets to open disciplinary information in state employee personnel files to unnecessary public scrutiny resurfaced in June, only to fail again to gain support needed to advance.
The press association failed in its first attempt to pass harmful language when Senate Bill 355 did not meet the crossover deadline. However, House Bill 64, a bill that was originally filed to add members to the NC Works Commission, was gutted and its language replaced with parts of Senate Bill 355.
The new version of House Bill 64 would have allowed ANYONE access to the most damaging part of an employee’s personnel file, specifically any comments from supervisors about disciplinary actions. It put the burden on the employee to fight against unfounded allegations which require legal resources, money and the wherewithal to get through the process.
SEANC battled in the Senate Judiciary and Senate Rules committees to stop the bill, but the full Senate passed it, mostly along party lines. Since it had already passed the House in its original form, it needed just a concurrence vote to be sent to Gov. Roy Cooper for his signature.
SEANC members and lobbyists mobilized to tell House members to vote not to concur, and they listened. After the bill reached the House floor on June 16, the House voted unanimously NOT to concur and the bill failed.
SEANC will continue to monitor bills throughout the session for this harmful language, and will once again call on members should it pop up again.
Effort to cut UNC employee pay thwarted
An effort by UNC System officials to gain the authority to cut their employees’ pay died with little fanfare in late June thanks to SEANC’s lobbying team.
House Bill 243, a bill touted as an effort to help the UNC System cope with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, contained language that would have allowed the UNC system to cut some employee salaries by up to 10%.
The bill passed both the House and Senate, but because the versions passed contained differences, it was sent to conference.
With no action for weeks thanks to the lobbying efforts of SEANC, the harmful language to cut university employees’ pay was removed when the bill was added to House Bill 602.
SEANC did not object to other provisions in House Bill 243 that addressed the early retirement incentive program, payment of the State Health Plan premiums for temporarily furloughed employees and one-time amendments to the General Fund.
These parts were included in House Bill 602, which passed both the House and Senate.
Jonathan Owens, Editor-In-Chief
Grandchildren of retired members will receive much-needed help on achieving their college dreams thanks to a generous $5,000 donation from District 61 and contributions from other districts.
The program offers an incentive for retirees who may have grandchildren who are in college.
In addition, Districts 38 and 44 each contributed $1,000 to the program, and Districts 2, 27, and 58 also contributed.
The awards will be given alongside SEANC’s annual scholarship process, which begins in January each year. This year’s winners will be announced in the September issue of The Reporter.
SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins (third from right) accepted
from District 61 Chairwoman Cindy Hester at the district’s annual meeting on June 11 to
grandchildren of retired members.
MEMBERS IN ACTION
SEANC ON THE ROAD
Halifax Mall Event May 5
Bicentennial Mall Event May 27
Liberty Mutual Rep. Markus Warwick and SEANC Emerging Leaders Council member William Puryear welcome new member Officer Larson from the State
an
for the
Executive
District 58 donated snacks, drinks, and juice to the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield and Kitty Askins Hospice in Goldsboro on May 4. Pictured are District 58 member Mickey Arthur (left), presenting items to SECU Hospice House staff member.
District 8 provided appreciation goody bags to the Wilkes Correctional staff on May 11. Pictured above are District 8 members Debbie Miller and Rocky Baldwin. Pictured at right, a staff member shows off her goody bag.
HAILEY
District 27 held
appreciation lunch
Facilities Department at N.C. Central University on May 12. SEANC General Treasurer Chevella L. Thomas and SEANC Member Relations Rep. Celia Wilson enjoyed seeing everyone in person.
District 19 retirees gathered in Hillsborough on May 25 for their first in-person meeting since the pandemic began. Thanks to District 19 member Hazel Lunsford for hosting at her beautiful home.
JOHNNY DAVISON
Capitol Police.
Director Ardis Watkins gives members a legislative update.
SEANC Member Relations Specialist Tamara Bridges welcomes new member Rep. Terry Brown.
General Assembly legislative staff members enjoy their free lunch. There was a huge turnout at the Bicentennial Event!
SEANC Director of Member Services CJ Stephens explains the benefits of SEANC membership.
N.C.
Warden of the Year: Drew Stanley, 32-year member
SEANC District 57 Chairman Drew Stanley has been named North Carolina Warden of the Year.
“Drew Stanley has done amazing work over the past year and has truly earned this award,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “He has been visionary, precautionary and effective in keeping the health and safety of his staff and the men in his custody as his top priority.”
A year ago, before any offenders in the prison system tested positive for the virus, Stanley reviewed all programs at the prison and instituted COVID-19 preparations. He streamlined the way offenders were housed and grouped them to protect their health and to better ensure continuity of operations at two Correction Enterprises operations at the prison in the event of an outbreak.
He worked to ensure the virus would not impact the Field Ministry Program at the prison, in which 70 offenders work
toward a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree in pastoral ministry with training in counseling. Stanley found a way to live-stream classes while ensuring pandemic safety precautions in the classes.
He instituted strict cleaning schedules in the offender housing units, created staff sign-in/sign-out logs for the housing units, and enacted additional rules to help prevent the virus from getting in or to contain it from spreading if it did get in to the male medium custody prison.
While most other prisons combated viral outbreaks in their offender populations throughout 2020, some repeatedly, the first outbreak at Nash Correctional wasn’t until Jan. 9, 2021 – 10 months after the first prison outbreak.
“Warden Stanley is highly regarded by his peers and serves as a wealth of knowledge for newly promoted wardens,” said Ishee. “He has proven to be a phenomenal warden and is a true asset to Prisons.”
Stanley began his career as a correctional officer at the former Polk Youth Institution in 1987. He has served in many roles during his career. In 2007, as assistant superintendent of programs at Nash Correctional, he inaugurated the facility’s therapeutic art program that has since grown into one of the largest in the state, with more than seven art classes for the offender population.
In 2019, as warden of Nash Correctional, he worked to fill 45 vacant staff positions, dropping the number of vacancies to 28 in six months and then to six vacancies within the year. The prison continues to maintain a low staff vacancy rate.
“I’m very honored to be a part of an elite group of individuals in the prison system,” Stanley said. “Fortunately, I still love what I do.” From the NCDPS
SEANC and Nationwide VPI Pet Insurance are holding a contest to see which SEANC member has the cutest pet!
Visit www.seanc.org/petphotocontest to register and submit your favorite photo before Aug. 23, 2021.
