SPOTLIGHT STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CAROLINA
BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING
NOV. 16, 2021
The Board of Governors met at the SEANC Central Office in Raleigh on Nov. 12-13, 2021.
HIGHLIGHTS Budget compromise includes raises, bonuses
Senate Leader Phil Berger spoke to the board by Zoom to thank SEANC for its hard work at the legislature this session, and give a short update on the budget, which was unveiled Monday. The budget includes: • A 5% pay raise for most state employees (including community college and university employees) and an average 5% pay raise for teachers over the biennium. • An increase in the minimum wage for all non-certified personnel and community college staff to $15 per hour beginning in 2022. • An experience-based step pay plan for corrections that would result in an average raise of 7%. • An experience-based pay plan for probation and parole that would result in an average raise of 17%. • The creation of a separate cabinet-level agency for adult and community corrections. • A 5% supplement for state retirees over the biennium. • A bonus for all state employees and local education employees of $1,000. • An additional $500 bonus (for a total of $1,500) for employees earning less than $75,000, as well as ALL law enforcement officers, workers in the Department of Public Safety, Correction and Juvenile Justice with job duties requiring frequent in-person contact, and Department of Health and Human Services workers in 24-hour residential or treatment facilities. The compromise will be passed by the General Assembly this week. Governor Roy Cooper has committed to signing it as well. The raises will be paid retroactive to July 1, 2021, with the additional salary from July to December paid in one lump sum with the bonus.
XYZ University reports on attracting young members
Sarah Sladek of XYZ University Inc. joined the meeting by Zoom to unveil the results of her research on SEANC and recommendations to better position the association for the future. Sladek said that associations all over the country are feeling the strain of a generational shift of the workforce. Through extensive surveys of members and nonmembers, meetings with shareholders, and a variety of research methods, Sladek found: • 66% of SEANC’s membership is 57 years old or older • Baby Boomers still make up 44% of our membership. • Only 14% of our membership is under 40 She reviewed results of the surveys, which were overall positive, and offered recommendations on ways to improve SEANC’s approach, including everything from changes to the benefits and insurance products we offer, updates to our online presence both on the website and through social media, and the creation of a sense of community among our membership. She also offered ideas for changing SEANC’s governance structure to allow younger members to participate. Continued on page 2