November 2019 • Vol. 38, Issue 1
THE
REPORTER
State Employees Association of North Carolina
SEANC secures largest two-year pay raise in a decade SEANC’s persistence this legislative session paid off in the form of the largest two-year pay raises for most state employees in more than a decade. It wasn’t an easy win for SEANC. Our lobbyists actually had to fight this battle twice in the same session after Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the legislature’s full budget that included the raises. SEANC convinced leaders that pay raises should not be used as a bargaining chip in the negotiation. Instead, the legislature passed by unanimous vote in late August a “mini budget” bill giving most state employees a 5% pay increase over the next two years – 2.5% in each year, as well as five bonus days of leave. This includes all employees who work
for a state agency. In addition to the pay raise, correctional employees at facilities with high vacancy rates will receive a supplement of up to $7,500. The legislature’s full spending plan included a one-time bonus for retirees and money for increases for university, community college and public school employees as well as retirees. The House voted on Sept. 11 to override Cooper’s veto, but the Senate had yet to take up the vote as of Oct. 18. Sen. Phil Berger said the legislature planned to adjourn by Oct. 31 and would address pay raises for employees at the university systems, community colleges and public schools, and retirees in a mini-budget bill before it left.
The issue of prison reform also loomed as the session neared an end. The House unanimously passed Senate Bill 579, which directs the Joint Program Evaluation Committee to study making the Department of Corrections a separate cabinet-level agency. This bill is a product of Sen. Bob Steinburg’s Select Committee on Prison Safety, and was one of the top recommendations from SEANC’s report on prison safety, issued in January after more than a year of input from correctional personnel around the state. SEANC’s lobbyists will be at the legislature throughout the session to make sure your voices are heard.
State Health Plan Open Enrollment runs Nov. 2-19 Open Enrollment for the State Health SAVE $$$ WITH SEANC INSURANCE Plan will be held Nov. 2-19. The annual open enrollment period Changes made during this time are for is a great time to check SEANC's the benefit year beginning Jan. 1, 2020. insurance products to see how we can Please visit the State Health Plan’s website at help you save on supplemental plans, www.shpnc.org for additional information vision, dental, life, home, auto and others. including videos, premium rates, plan Visit seanc.org/insurance or call comparisons and what action members may 919-752-3350 to discuss our programs. need to take during this time. Members will have access to the same The Plan’s Eligibility and Enrollment broad, statewide provider network as Support Center will have extended hours they do today, which is the Blue Options during open enrollment: network administered by Blue Cross Blue • Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Shield of North Carolina. This includes all • Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. North Carolina hospitals. • Sundays, Noon - 5 p.m. Open Enrollment Decision Guides This office can be reached by dialing should arrive in mailboxes in late October. 855-859-0966.
IN THIS ISSUE 3 5 6-7 8-9
Members in Action
10
2019 Awards
President's Speech
11
Legislator of the Year Hurricane Florence
12
Membership Event
2018-19 Board of Governors Convention photo spread
SEANC signs on to support CON reform SEANC joined with several groups in October to file a brief in support of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state's Certificate of Need (CON) law. CON laws require that hospitals and other providers must obtain permission from a state planning board to build a new facility or expand on an existing one. This allows large established hospital groups to prevent competition, which leads directly to higher prices for consumers like the State Health Plan and its members. North Carolina has one of the most restrictive CON laws in the country, and is one of the many reasons the state ranks 50th in the nation for health care costs.