June 2020 • Vol. 38, Issue 4
THE
REPORTER
State Employees Association of North Carolina
SEANC is your one voice during the COVID-19 Crisis The last two months have been life-changing — we have seen an unprecedented global pandemic take over our state and change the very way we work and live. And you have been fighting on the front lines to save us. The legislature returned May 18 for the short session. The expected loss of state revenue as a result of the crisis makes SEANC more important than ever. We are the one voice standing up against job cuts and furloughs, and for safer working conditions and pay for state employees, as well as retirement security.
In the last two months, SEANC has: • Secured COVID-19 testing for all employees within the walls of our prisons, as well as probation/parole and juvenile justice officers. • Fielded more than 1,000 calls and emails from members.
Legislators need to hear from you on the need for hazard pay and worker safety! If you haven’t already, please reach out to your legislator now by visiting seanc.org/engage. Amid all the extra work you’re putting in, it is easy to forget to celebrate
DPS COVID-19 testing puts burden on employees After months of lobbying from SEANC, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) finally announced plans on May 14 to test employees for COVID-19 that will place an undue burden on employees. With the announcement in mid-April of a massive outbreak of COVID-19 among inmates at Neuse Correctional in Goldsboro in addition to reports of cases at other prisons and probation/parole offices, it became clear to SEANC that personnel all over the state are in danger. At the urging of many concerned members, SEANC asked DPS officials to provide tests for all employees. DPS officials said they were unable to find enough tests kits for all employees but would welcome help from the State Health Plan. SEANC, State Treasurer Dale Folwell and the State Health Plan worked out a plan in late April to test every staff member at prisons and juvenile justice facilities, and all probation/parole staff, using mobile units to make the process accessible.
Determined to use its own vendors, the department decided to pull out of SEANC’s plan at the last minute. DPS’s plan includes using LabCorp tests and FastMed facilities around the state. Some prisons are as far as 112 miles away from the nearest FastMed testing location. “We are glad DPS is finally making an effort toward beginning testing,” said SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins. “We are truly unclear why they want to limit the testing to locations that might be far from prisons and a hindrance.” Fowell’s plan could have started in midApril. Instead, correctional personnel have spent that time worrying over whether they are bringing the virus home to their families. “This plan is too little, too late and will create a false sense of comfort,” said Watkins. “At the end of the day, no testing will be effective until the department stops moving inmates from facility to facility.”
• Successfully advocated for suspension on inspections to limit contact with the public by DMV employees. • Lobbied the NC General Assembly for hazard pay for any mandatory employees unable to social distance while performing their jobs.
each other. We need to share some love for our unsung heroes — the state employees on the front lines. If you know a member in your area or place of work who needs praising for going the extra mile, let us know by emailing us at jowens@seanc.org.
2020 Convention Canceled The Executive Committee voted on May 19 to cancel the 2020 SEANC Convention due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. This decision was made to allow SEANC to alert the Sheraton by a deadline of May 22 to avoid serious financial penalties. SEANC polled more than 200 active SEANC members including the Board of Governors, and the overwhelming majority expressed concerns that social distancing and other measures simply would not be possible on the order needed to keep our members safe. In the end, the only option for the Executive Committee was to cancel the event this year and postpone all Convention business until next year. This includes postponing elections for SEANC officer positions. The current group of statewide officers and committee members will remain in place until September 2021.