Pay Raises Top General Assembly Session Agenda
By Toni Davis
SEANC Director of Communications
Teacher pay raises, teacher pay raises and more teacher pay raises. No state employee, parent or grandparent begrudges a teacher raise, but the rising tide for teacher pay increases needs to lift all boats and include all state employees and retirees.
And that is precisely the message that SEANC is bringing to the General Assembly when it convenes for the “short” session on May 14.
The session promises to be a short one, indeed, with some lawmakers hinting they hope it will last just a few weeks.
That’s why SEANC started months ago advocating for a 3-percent acrossthe-board pay increase and costof-living increase for retirees. State employees have had just a 1.2-percent pay increase in six years while prices for everything from food to housing to medicine continue to rise.
SEANC Done With Excuses
SEANC isn’t taking no for an answer when it comes to pay raises. Whether it’s Medicaid costs or the need to update buildings, these excuses need to take a back seat to public services and the people who provide them.
SEANC’s Top 10 Legislative Priorities
(as determined by the 2013 Convention)
n Request that the General Assembly fund employee salary compensation prior to considering other appropriations.
n Oppose legislation that would remove state employees from the protections of the State Human Resources Act (formerly the State Personnel Act).
n SEANC will oppose privatization and downsizing of government services.
n SEANC supports continuation of a defined benefit retirement plan for current and future state employees.
n Seek to have SEANC continue to protect dues deduction options from being deleted from the North Carolina state payroll.
n Seek cost-of-living adjustment for retired state employees in the amount equal to active state employee pay increases.
n Seek to re-establish a fully paid individual health care benefit equivalent to the current PPO 80/20 in place as of June 30, 2013, for all qualified active and retired state employees.
n Seek policy change and compliance with laws, policies and regulations governing equitable compensation for career state employees in comparison to current and/or future new compensation offers; and further, petition the Office of State Human Resources (formerly the Office of State Personnel) to take corrective action when agencies are found to be non-compliant.
n Seek legislative change from the North Carolina State Treasurer serving as sole fiduciary of the retirement system.
n Seek employer contribution to the retirement system that will at least match the employee’s contribution.
“No excuse is acceptable this year instead of a raise,” said SEANC President Sidney M. Sandy. “After six years, we need and deserve a meaningful pay raise.”
With the legislature returning to Raleigh, now is the time for SEANC members to do their part and start contacting their legislators at 919-733-4111 to request a 3-percent raise and retiree cost-of-living adjustment.
tdavis@seanc.org, Twitter @ToniCDavis
N.C. Pay Raises Fast Facts
1 Number of pay raises in the past six years (just 1.2%)
105 Cost in millions of a 3% costof-living adjustment
195 Cost in millions of a 3% pay raise for state employees
282 Cost in millions of turnover because of lack of pay raises in 2011-12
88,837 Number of SHRA employees
Director’s Message
By Dana Cope seanC exeCuTive DireCTor
North CaroliNa is loNg overdue for Pay raises
Idon’t have to tell you that North Carolina’s state employees and retirees are long overdue for pay increases. All you have to do is look at your paycheck each month.
Cope
But if you need some statistics for proof when you talk to your representatives in the General Assembly, consider this: At least 27 states have already committed to giving their state employees raises of some sort this year, and it’s only April. That’s more than half. Those increases vary from small to large, but they are increases. For example, Pennsylvania, a similarly sized state to ours in population and economy, will give all its state employees a 6-percent increase over the next 18 months. We haven’t had any raise near that since 2006.
All four of our neighboring states – Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and, yes, even South Carolina – have plans for pay increases as well. Oklahoma is giving a 14 to 20-percent increase to its state troopers alone. Michigan, Louisiana, Missouri and Massachusetts also are among the group giving raises.
And yet, in North Carolina, politicians have already begun backpeddling on their promises earlier this year to increase pay for state employees and teachers. As the General Assembly returns later this month, a real fight is looming to get state employees and retirees the pay increases they deserve.
Public Service Recognition Week (May 4 – 10)
The NC Society of Certified Public Managers (NCSCPM) & the Research Triangle Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) commend all state employees for their outstanding service, dedication, and commitment to the citizens of North Carolina.
Contact information: www.ncscpm.org, www.aspanet.org
It’s a challenge we welcome, though, because the truth is on our side.
Just a few short years ago, the economy was in the tank. Politicians used that as an excuse to neglect us. They stopped prioritizing public services and the people who provide them, and our state suffered.
Then, just as the economy started to turn the corner, they turned to the Medicaid shortfall excuse. Projections say that this year, the state will have to come up with at least $120 million for Medicaid.
But that’s not our fault.
Now consider this: It cost the state $282 million to train new workers for various state jobs that were vacated in 2011-12 because the state failed to give raises. That’s more than enough to pay for a 3-percent raise for all state employees and retirees.
So instead of giving raises that year, politicians decided to gamble on whether or not you would work for less, since prices aren’t getting any cheaper. And they lost.
Not giving raises to hardworking state employees is bad policy all around. It costs us, but it also costs the rest of the state and the taxpayers.
dcope@seanc.org, Twitter @DanaDCope
Remember to vote on May 6
Visit seanc.org for a complete list of candidates endorsed by EMPAC for the primary. Find a local polling place by visiting your county’s board of elections.
The Reporter, USPS 009-852 (ISSN 1069 2142), is published nine times a year in the months of February, March, April, May, June, July, September, November and December for $2.50 per year, per member, by the State Employees Association of North Carolina, Inc., 1621 Midtown Place, Raleigh, N.C. 27609. Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh and additional offices.
POSTMASTER
Send address changes to: THE REPORTER 1621 Midtown Place Raleigh, NC 27609
toni Davis, Editor-In-Chief
Jonathan owens, Managing Editor
alicia Miller, Associate Editor
Beth Dew, Associate Editor
Matthew whittle, Associate Editor
State Employees Association of North Carolina 1621 Midtown Place • Raleigh, NC 27609 Telephone 919-833-6436, 800-222-2758
www.seanc.org
Advertising Policy
SEANC accepts advertising material from companies and persons seeking to communicate with SEANC members. Acceptance of this advertising does not indicate SEANC approval or endorsement of any representation that the message, product or service is as represented by the advertiser. SEANC accepts no responsibility and shall not be liable for any use of or reliance on any such information, product or service. SEANC is a private entity and is under no obligation to carry advertisements of any nature, political or otherwise, that may be viewed as contrary to the interests of the association and its membership.
MEMBER ACTION
On April 10 at Western Piedmont Community College, Western Regional Rep. Tony Smith of District 5 met with the Western Region chairmen and members.
District 65 raised more than $3,000 for the Pitt County Relay for Life on April 4-5 at South Central High School in Winterville. Pictured are team members Alesia Warren, Debbie Austin, Stasia Austin, Deanne Smith, Inga Jones, Joanie Tyson, Martha Latham, Adorian Bell, Dorothy Andrews, Neichelle Bell, District 65 Chairwoman Gloria Evans (front) Tanya Cannon, Lynn Tuthill, Tiasia Andrews, Haley Clayborne and Seth Tuthill.
65 members prepared a
for
members
District
meal
families visiting loved ones who are patients at the local Vidant Medical Center at the Ronald McDonald House in Greenville on March 26. Pictured from left are
Lynn Tuthill, Linda Nelson, Linda Stepps, Joanie Tyson, Bill Dawson, Camilla Dawson and Debbie Austin.
SEANC President Sidney M. Sandy and other members attended a fundraiser for EMPAC-endorsed N.C. Rep. Pat Hurley (R-Randolph) in Asheboro on April 3. At left, Sandy stands with N.C. Commissioner of Labor Cherie Berry. Above, Sandy stands with Hurley and District 17 member Dan Efird.
SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope was honored recently by the N.C. Association for Workforce Professionals with the International Association for Workforce Professionals
Public Policy Award at the group’s annual convention in Wilmington on April 4.
PUBLIC POLICY
Quotes to Note
“The
bottom line is you can’t lose a third of your program and think you can have the same kind of services. It’s just impossible.”
District 20 member Beverly Bizzell in an April 5 column by Ned Barnett in the News & Observer on cuts to the Oral Health Division of DHHS titled, “The ache of lost dental care in N.C.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to stop the program because in another 10 years you’re going to be right back where you were.”
District 17 member Carol Foster in the same column.
“I think these 22 candidates clearly ... have exhibited their commitment to prioritizing public service and helping North Carolina remain strong through its public services.”
SEANC Political Director Kevin LeCount in a March 31 post on the News & Observer’s Under the Dome blog titled “SEANC backs 21 legislative candidates, picks against 2 incumbents”
“When fees are increasing as fast as ours are, and the value of the fund isn’t going up as fast, then we have a problem,” she said. “It’s become clear to us that performance of the pension is where the problem is.”
SEANC Legislative Affairs Director Ardis Watkins in a March 19 story in Financial Advisor Magazine titled, “N.C. Union seeking probe of 400% rise in money management fees”
North Central Region Representative Chairman Alfred Johnson and District 42 member Deborah Melvin-Willis delivered 50 Easter baskets to preschoolers at The Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh on April 10.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW WHITTLE
PHOTO BY MATTHEW WHITTLE
The winning team of Carlton Jarman, Edward Thompson, Jackie Minter and John Hines of District 67, Nicole Hunter of District 43 and Jermaine Puryear of District 21.
Scholarship Strike-Out
The first-ever SEANC Scholarship Strike-Out Bowl-A-Thon was held April 12 at AMF East Carolina Lanes in Greenville to benefit the SEANC Scholarship Foundation. Thank you to team and lane sponsors Districts 70, 68, 67 66, 65, 63, 61, 56, 42, 39, 26 and 12; Mitch Leonard, Wayne Fish, Sidney Sandy, Law Office of Michael Byrne, Brandwave Ink., Doug Sutton Insurance Services and Colonial Life.
District 65’s team consisted of members Debbie Austin, Alicia Simpson, District 65 Chairwoman Gloria Evans, Jackie Caudill and Karen Simmons, as well as friends and family.
District 66 Chairman Mike Kollock (left) was joined by members Faye Davis and Francisco Duarte on the district’s team.
of
Time To Save!
All members of SEANC will receive deep discounts on 1,100 frequently-used products: Paper Ink Toner Furniture Janitorial supplies
& Print Discounts
off
services
and more) Get your Store Discount Card at the SEANC Member Discounts Page and start saving today! http://seanc.org Contact Michael Higgins at Michael.Higgins@officedepot.com
The “Go Fish!” team consisted
EMPAC Statewide Chairman Wayne Fish, Ernest Fleming of District 70, Tannilla Williams of District 69 and Joe Bruton.
SEANC President Sidney M. Sandy (middle) and Treasurer
B.J. Jones (second from left) with bowlers including North Central Region Representative Alfred Johnson, District 42 members Betty Gilbert, Willard Young and Shonda Kelly and District 21 member Dianne Carter.
PHOTO BY TONI DAVIS
PHOTO BY TONI DAVIS
ANNUAL MEETINGS CALENDAR
1June 106:00 pmRyan's Steakhouse, 374 Walmart Plaza SylvaYTony Rickman arickman@ncdot.gov
2June 255:30 pmYao Buffet, 153 Smokey Park Highway AshevilleYLesia Manos seancdistrict2@aol.com
3June 245:30 pmLaQuinta Inn & Suites, 165 Hwy 105 Extension BooneYBob Gibbardgibbardro@appstate.edu
4June 236:00 pmHome of Shirley Thompson, 2978 Laura Rd ShelbyYShirley Thompson 704.484.2902
5May 226:00 pm Western Piedmont Community College Cafeteria 1001 Burkemont Ave MorgantonYTony Smithtonysmith646@gmail.com
6July 85:30 pm Broughton Hospital Employee Cafeteria 1000 S. Sterling St MorgantonYSonya Akbar smjakbar@yahoo.com
7May 225:15 pm J. Iverson Riddle Development Center Gym 300 Enola Rd
MorgantonYHenry Beladawoodchop7@charter.net
8June 282:00 pmGolden Corral, 1917 U.S. 421 WilkesboroYKeith Haynestarheelenglishkennel@gmail.com
9June 126:00 pmDOT Maintenance Building, 124 Prison Camp RdStatesvilleYJamie Robinsonturkey10133@yahoo.com
10June 26:30 pmGolden Corral, 1540 U.S. 29
11May 206:00 pm DOT Maintenance Office 1017 Old Prison Camp Rd
12June 56:00 pm Captain's Galley Seafood Restaurant 11032 E. Independence Blvd (Hwy 74)
ConcordYJim Nicholsonjrnich2000@yahoo.com
PolktonYKenny Browerbrowersauto@windstream.net
MatthewsYMarilyn Martin53mjmartin@gmail.com
13June 245:30 pm CPCC, Central Campus, Hall Building Room #304 1112 Charlottetown Ave CharlotteYYolyndra Greenyolyndra.green@cpcc.edu
16June 106:00 pm NC School of the Arts, 1533 S. Main St Winston‐SalemYLinda Moore lmoore@ncdot.gov
17June 166:00 pm Golden Corral Family Steakhouse 3108 Garden Rd BurlingtonYSager Furr frederick.furr@ncdps.gov
18June 96:30 pm Pat's Kitchen, Hwy US 74 RockinghamYSharron Pattersonsharron.patterson@ncdps.gov
19June 175:30 pmOWASA, 400 Jones Ferry Rd
20June 1410:00 am Southern Coastal Plain OSDT Training Complex 180 Sandhills Dr
CarrboroYMartha Fowler mfowler999@gmail.com
RaefordY‐lunchJacquelyn Chatmanjaiunique65@aol.com
21June 186:30 pm Camp Braham, Highway Old 75 StemYJanice Bass janb220@hotmail.com
22May 237:30 pm The Brass Lantern Steak House 515 Springbranch Rd
23May 307:00 pmDales Seafood, 107 SJK Powell Blvd
24July 156:00 pm Agricultural Service Center Extension Auditorium, 450 Smith Circle Rd.
25July 85:30 pm OWASA, 400 Jones Ferry Rd
26June 256:00 pm George Currie Visitation Hall‐Polk C.I. 1001 Veazey Rd
27June 166:00 pmRick's Diner, 3710 Shannon Rd
36June 115:30 pmSEANC Central Office ‐ Conference Room C
DunnYDebra Harneydeborahharney@ymail.com
WhitevilleYJeremy Register jgr74@ymail.com
ElizabethtownYCathy Fields cathyf2@ec.rr.com
CarrboroYJohn Gullo johnagullo@outlook.com
ButnerYGloria Upperman ugm101@aol.com
DurhamYGracie LeSanegracie_lesane@msn.com
RaleighNFelicia McKinnieseancdistrict36chair@gmail.com
37 Joseph Qubainjoseph.qubain@att.net
38June 125:30 pmSEANC Central Office ‐ Conference Room AB RaleighYSusan Gentry gsmlgentry@gmail.com
39June 105:30 pm McKimmon Conference & Training Center 1101 Gorman St RaleighYMary O'Neill seanc_39@yahoo.com
40June 126:00 pm DPS Enterprise Conference Room 2020 Yonkers Rd
41June 9 Golden Corral
42June 195:30 pmSEANC Central Office ‐ Conference Room A
McLaurindlmc134@gmail.com
Acquista pacquista1@gmail.com
Johnsonalfredjohnson1948@att.net 43June 245:30 pm Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar‐B‐Q 7304 Knighdale Blvd
44June 176:00 pm Logan's, 1000 Timber Dr. E
mdenisec32@yahoo.com
claybrut@aol.com
locomanrr@yahoo.com
jonesd0708@gmail.com 57June 36:30 pmParkers BBQ, 2514 U.S. 301
59June 96:00
60June 9 6:00 pm
Steakhouse & Pub Restaurant 5662 US Highway 70 E
61June 206:30 pm 19th Street Kitchen, 919 College St
62June 236:00 pmArboretum, 6206 Oleander Dr.
tsheen15@gmail.com
angela.keith7399@gmail.com
63May 276:30 pmHeritage House Restaurant, 1303 S. King St WindsorYMarion Drakemarion002@centurylink.net
64June 126:30 pm Parkers, 3109 S Memorial Dr GreenvilleYBetsey Lee Hodgesblh1480@hotmail.com
65June 165:30 pm G&K Café, 3197 East 10th St GreenvilleYGloria Evans highsmithg@gmail.com
66May 226:00 pmThe Folded Napkin, 115 W. North St KinstonY Mike Kollock kollock@yahoo.com
67June 246:00 pm Golden Corral Family Steakhouse, 400 Hotel Dr. New BernYStanley Drewerydrewerystanley@yahoo.com
68May 217:00 pmNixon Catering, 749 Virginia Rd EdentonYRita Woods rita.woods@ncdps.gov
69June 265:30 pm Elizabeth City St. University‐Kermit White Center 1704 Weeksville Rd Elizabeth City Light snacks Keith Renner vrkeithr@yahoo.com
70May 226:00 pmThe Folded Napkin, 115 W. North St KinstonYDouglas Wilsonsharpshooter@suddenlink.net
Raleigh, NC
1621 Midtown Place
Raleigh, NC 27609
Oral Health section keeps N.C. children smiling
By MaTThew whiTTle SEANC Communications Specialist
Begun in 1918, North Carolina’s Oral Health program is the oldest dental public health program in the nation, and was created in order to combat the rampant oral health problems in the largely rural state through preventative education.
With 37 percent of children entering kindergarten affected by tooth decay, the program aims to teach elementary school children how to care for their teeth.
“Access to dental care is one of the biggest unmet health care needs in this state,” said retired state oral hygienist Nancy Ferguson Brown.
Unfortunately, state budget cuts are making it harder for the Oral Health section to carry out its mission.
Brown, who retired in 2009, speaks on behalf of current employees who fear reprisal if too vocal about those
budget cuts.
She said the program more than pays for itself by keeping children out of emergency rooms because of serious and acute oral health problems and away from more expensive dental treatments. And by keeping children from having to deal with such dental emergencies, she said, not only does the oral health program save money in the long run, it also encourages education and economic development.
She explained how the program assesses the condition of children’s teeth, helps parents find dental care, and works with school systems to provide dental sealants and fluoride mouth rinses.
“Every week in Burke County somebody stops me on the street and comments how the school dental program helped them keep their teeth,” Brown said. “For many of them, us coming into the classroom was the first time they had ever been exposed to a toothbrush, much less told what to do with it.”
But it’s about more than just a pretty smile and fresh breath. It’s also about good overall physical health.
“We’re finding more and more that poor oral health is associated with a number of chronic diseases,” she said.
“Good dental health is a life skill,” Brown said, adding that it’s important for children to learn good habits early.
mwhittle@seanc.org; Twitter @mwwhittle
Nancy Ferguson Brown discusses cuts to DHHS’ Oral Health section with N.C. Sen. Warren Daniel (R-Burke) in 2013.