Scoop april 2011

State Employees Association of North Carolina The SEANC Scoop April 1, 2011

Legislative Update (New on Video!)

It's no joke, today's Legislative Update features SEANC Legislative Affairs Director Ardis Watkins talking about SEANC's No. 1 legislative priority of moving oversight of the State Health Plan (SHP) out from the General Assembly, ending no-bid, sweetheart secret contracts, ending punitive BMI/tobacco penalties and the fight to stop health care premiums.

N&O State Health Plan Editorial The News and Observer calls SEANC members' No. 1 priority in the legislature – SHP reform – a “healthy move” noting "it was always naïve to expect a committee of part-time legislators to oversee administration of a health insurance plan covering more than 660,000 people” and recognizes the “ouch” coming to state employees for the General Assembly’s failure to watch over the plan. Read more here.

"Take Pride in Carolina" mobile sign up: Text TPIC to 68753 Hometown Rallies: Western Rally, Morganton: April 9 Eastern Rally, Greenville: April 16 Central Rally, Raleigh: April 30

Quick Links:

Morganton Rally on April 9 Western SEANC members – come to the Morganton Hometown Rally on Saturday, April 9, at Judge’s Riverside Restaurant at noon. With the state facing a budget deficit, now is the time to ask politicians to "Take Pride in Carolina" and choose working families over corporate welfare in the budget! We will be filming a TV commercial for the "Take Pride in Carolina" campaign during the rally, so don’t miss out on your opportunity to show your support for quality public services and the people who provide them. Register online now!

Legislators Join SEANC SEANC First Vice President Sidney Sandy and Treasurer Marilyn Martin signed up two new legislators as SEANC members this week. Welcome Reps. Frank McGuirt to SEANC District 11 and Rodney Moore to SEANC District 12.

Member Discount Want fries with that shake? SEANC members can now get 10 percent off at 67 SONIC locations throughout North Carolina.

Click here to verify if your local SONIC is included.

SEANC Hot Spots: Legislative Update Benefits Bulletin Member Discounts SEANC in the News SEANC Insurance Update Your Contact Info Calendar of Events www.seanc.org 800-222-2758

State Employees Association of North Carolina The SEANC Scoop April 8, 2011

Legislative Update This week's Legislative Update discusses agency budgets, House Bill 335 which pushes the privatization of prison maintenance and a proposal to remove UNC system employees from the State Personnel Act. For more, read this week's Legislative Update.

Morganton Rally - Saturday SEANC will host the first of three hometown rallies on Saturday in Morganton. Local citizens and state employees will gather to support quality public services and the hardworking men and women who provide them – asking lawmakers to pass a common sense budget that supports working families instead of sweetheart privatization deals for political donors. Rallies will also be in Greenville on April 16 and Raleigh on April 30.

"Take Pride in Carolina" mobile sign up: Text TPIC to 68753 April Benefits Bulletin Hometown Rallies: Western Rally, Morganton: April 9 Eastern Rally, Greenville: April 16 Central Rally, Raleigh: April 30

Quick Links:

Silent Protest SEANC members joined with our brothers and sisters from the AFL-CIO in a silent protest on Monday in Raleigh to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to support collective bargaining rights.

Member Discount If you’re ready for a fun daytrip, stop by any of the State Employees’ Credit Union branches starting April 13 to pick up your discounted tickets to regional theme and amusement parks. SEANC is partnering again with the credit union to offer the best price available. View ticket price and parks information here.

SEANC Hot Spots: Legislative Update Benefits Bulletin Member Discounts SEANC in the News SEANC Insurance Update Your Contact Info Calendar of Events www.seanc.org 800-222-2758

State Employees Association of North Carolina The SEANC Scoop April 15, 2011

Victory for DOC maintenance workers in the House!

SEANC members scored a major victory against privatization of state jobs this week in the House. HB 335, a bill to open the door to prison maintenance privatization, was amended

by Rep. Nelson Dollar to study the issue rather than take these 450 jobs from the hardworking state employees doing them so well now. Read more here.

Legislative Update This week in Raleigh turned into a showdown over the State Health Plan reform bill, SB 265. On Wednesday, Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed the legislation, surprising many as the bill is similar to her own proposed budget. On Thursday, the Senate passed a motion to override Perdue’s veto and today SEANC met with Speaker Thom Tillis on the SHP Reform Bill.

For more, read this week’s Legislative Update.

"Take Pride in Carolina" mobile sign up: Text TPIC to 68753 April Benefits Bulletin Hometown Rallies: Eastern Rally, Greenville: April 16 Central Rally, Raleigh: April 30

Quick Links:

Protect Your SPA Rights SEANC Chief of Staff/General Counsel Tom Harris spoke out against SB 525 – a bill to strip SPA employees of their employment protections at NC State last night. SEANC's No. 2 Policy Platform Objective is to oppose removal of SPA rights. To learn more, read here, or if you’d like Harris to come to your university, contact him at tharris@seanc.org.

Hometown Rally - Greenville The second “Take Pride in Carolina” rally hits Greenville Saturday at noon! Local citizens and state employees will gather to support quality public services and the hardworking men and women who provide them -- urging lawmakers to preserve vital public services instead of privatizing jobs to reward politicians’ out-of-town campaign donors.

Member Discount Looking for a place to stay for your next getaway? SEANC members can receive exclusive discounts at Choice hotels, which include Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites and Sleep Inn. Use the ID number provided when making reservations and save 20 percent! See more details here.

SEANC Hot Spots: Legislative Update Benefits Bulletin Member Discounts SEANC in the News SEANC Insurance Update Your Contact Info Calendar of Events www.seanc.org 800-222-2758

State Employees Association of North Carolina The SEANC Scoop April 21, 2011

Legislative Update The State Health Plan reform bill is hopping in the General Assembly. Following the veto of SB 265, the health plan's future hangs in the balance due to North Carolina Association of Educator's political games. For more, read this week's Legislative Update.

"Take Pride in Carolina" mobile sign up: Text TPIC to 68753 April Benefits Bulletin Hometown Rallies: Central Rally, Raleigh: April 30

Thank You For Your Relief Efforts Thank you SEANC members who worked on tornado relief efforts to keep our communities, roads and highways safe and provide quality care to those in need. If you have a public service story that you’d like to share with the SEANC membership about your work in the storm’s aftermath, please email Mary Adelaide Riddick.

Quick Links:

New Director of Retirement Systems Steve Toole is the new Director of the Retirement Systems Division. He was installed at Thursday morning's Board of Trustees meeting of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System. Toole formerly worked for Nationwide Insurance in Columbus, Ohio. Welcome to North Carolina, Mr. Toole!

Member Discount Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Planning a day trip?

How about the North Carolina Zoo? SEANC members and their families receive a $2 discount off admission. You must show your SEANC membership card to receive the discount.

Central Office Closed Friday The SEANC Central Office will be closed on Friday in observance of Good Friday. We will re-open on Monday, April 25, at 8 a.m. We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful weekend!

SEANC Hot Spots: Legislative Update Benefits Bulletin Member Discounts SEANC in the News SEANC Insurance Update Your Contact Info Calendar of Events www.seanc.org 800-222-2758

State Employees Association of North Carolina The SEANC Scoop Legislative Update The House released its budget (HB 200) on Tuesday and SEANC members fared better in it than the governor's budget. In the House budget the proposed cuts represent a shared sacrifice by education and general government rather than general government bearing the majority of the burden.

Now if only corporations would pay their fair share. The State Health Plan reform bill also saw action this week. No word yet if Perdue plans to sign or veto this reform measure. For more, read this week's Legislative Update.

April 29, 2011

"Take Pride in Carolina" mobile sign up: Text TPIC to 68753 April Benefits Bulletin Hometown Rallies: Central Rally, Raleigh: April 30

Quick Links: Senate Bill 575 SB 575, the bill that strips State Personnel Act protections from university employees is scheduled for action next Wednesday May 4 in the General Assembly. SB 575 is deliberately vague, lacks oversight, creates a system ripe for political patronage, removes worker protections and is goes against SEANC's No. 2 legislative priority this session. The UNC system can write all the wonderful polices they want, sign them in blood, cross their hearts and hope to die, but those policies are not statutes and thus cannot be enforced by law, said university employee and District 39 member Mary ONeill.

Thanks to the SEANC members that joined us this week to maintain workers rights!

Continue to stand up and join us at the NCGA! Contact Tony Booe for more information.

Raleigh Hometown Rally Join your SEANC family for the Take Pride in Carolina rally this Saturday at noon in Raleigh at Bicentennial Mall and ask lawmakers to pass a common sense budget. Now more than ever, it is important for SEANC members to stand together to remind state leaders of the vital public services that you provide and to ask the legislature and the governor to avoid a train wreck by shutting down government.

Join us and let SEANC make you a star! We will be filming a Take Pride in Carolina commercial at the rally.

Member Discount Planning a trip to an amusement park? SEANC has arranged the best available prices! Save up to 40 percent off at Kings Dominion, Carowinds, NASCAR Speedpark, Myrtle Waves, Pavilion Nostalgia, Busch Gardens and Wet n Wild Emerald Pointe. Tickets are on sale now at any State Employees Credit Union branch or by using the ticket order form.

SEANC Hot Spots: Legislative Update Benefits Bulletin Member Discounts SEANC in the News SEANC Insurance Update Your Contact Info Calendar of Events www.seanc.org 800-222-2758