Scoop January 2012

State Employees Association of North Carolina The SEANC Scoop January 6, 2012 General Assembly overrides Perdue on NCAE union dues check-off bill On Thursday, the N.C. House voted to override a veto by Gov. Beverly Perdue of Senate Bill 727, which prohibits the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) from collecting public school employees’ dues from their paychecks. The N.C. Senate voted to override the veto in July. Nearly 1,000 SEANC members who are employed by local school districts are also affected by the bill.

SEANC prides itself on having a working relationship with legislators from both sides of the aisle and being a nonpartisan, issues driven organization.

This June News & Observer article “Unlike NCAE, SEANC escapes GOP's scorn,” spelled out the political differences between the two unions well.

The February edition of The Reporter will be in mailboxes on or about Jan. 21 Click here to read the December Reporter!

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State Health Plan board meets for the first time SEANC District 22 Chairwoman Michele Shaw (pictured at left) and the other nine members of the State Health Plan (SHP) Board of Trustees met for the first time on Thursday and Friday. In 2011, SEANC successfully advocated for control of the SHP to move away from the General Assembly and championed the creation of the board with equal representation from state employees and retirees. Shaw, from Lillington, was appointed to the board in late December by N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger. The plan provides health coverage to more than 664,000 teachers, state employees, retirees and dependents.

SEIU scholarship applications available Did you know that as a SEANC member, you and your family members are eligible to compete for more than 50 national scholarships from Service Employees International Union? Last year, two members of SEANC families won awards, and we hope to have even more winners this year. But hurry, because the deadline for entry is March 1. For more information, or to apply, visit SEIU’s scholarships page.

Member Discount The Greatest Show on Earth is coming to Raleigh again! Don’t miss the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus FULLY CHARGED at the RBC Center Feb. 8-12.

SEANC members can get discounts of $4 off per weekend ticket and up to $12 off Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday shows by visiting our featured discounts page and filling out and submitting the form.

SEANC Hot Spots: 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 January 13, 2012 Cope meets with Governor, cabinet on public service partnership Gov. Bev Perdue invited SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope to brief her cabinet members on the partnership between SEANC and government managers in order to improve public services, reduce costs and create workplaces that value the ideas of all employees. The governor’s Executive Order 45 provides for a direct voice for employees to offer ideas and develop open workplace communication to identify common issues of concern, evaluate potential improvements and recommend solutions that create better workplaces.

The February edition of The Reporter will be in mailboxes on or about Jan. 21 Click here to read the December Reporter!

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SEANC, cabinet meet to discuss implementation of EO 45 SEANC’s Intergovernmental Liaison Linda Rouse Sutton and Director of Member Strength Kevin LeCount, along with OSP Director Linda Coleman, met with several cabinet members this week including DHHS Secretary Lanier Cansler, DENR Secretary Dee Freeman, Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco, Transportation Secretary Gene Conti, Secretary of Public Safety Reuben Young, Revenue Secretary David Hoyle and ITS CIO Jerry Fralick to discuss how to best implement the partnership in each of their agencies. If you have an idea for the partnership, contact Kevin LeCount.

State Health Plan Listenting Tour makes first stop More than 100 state employees attended the first stop on the State Health Plan Listening Tour on Wednesday at Wake Technical Community College. District 22 Chairwoman and State Health Plan Board of Trustees member Michele Shaw and State Treasurer Janet Cowell spoke during the discussion. At its first meeting last week, the board voted to support a 5.3 percent premium increase effective July 1, 2012, with Shaw casting the only “no” vote. Find a tour event near you by checking out "Latest News" on SEANC's website.

Judge blocks dues checkoff law for now Superior Court Judge Paul Gessner issued a temporary restraining order Monday to block a new law that stops the NCAE and SEANC, among other groups, from collecting

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

dues from public school employees’ paychecks. SEANC currently has about 1,000 members who are affected by the law, which resulted from a veto override last week.

SEANC Program: Pet Insurance SEANC is proud to offer pet insurance at a low rate! Healthy Paws Pet Insurance covers everything from injuries to emergency care.

Simply choose a deductible and reimbursement level that fits your budget. Get an instant quote today with a 15 percent lifetime discount for SEANC members.

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State Employees Association of North Carolina The SEANC Scoop January 20, 2012 Blue Cross CEO visits SEANC Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina President and CEO Brad Wilson visited the SEANC Central Office on Thursday to meet with Executive Director Dana Cope and Legislative Director Ardis Watkins about the future of the State Health Plan.

Click here to read the February Reporter!

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Trustees recommend COLA to GA SEANC Lobbyist Mitch Leonard addressed the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System Board of Trustees Meeting Thursday morning on our legislative goals for the upcoming May session. After Leonard's remarks, the trustees voted in favor of SEANC’s Retiree Council’s recommendation that the General Assembly keep the Annual Required Contribution at 8.33 percent, and use the resulting $63 million surplus for a 1.9 percent cost of living adjustment for retirees.

Implementation of Executive Order 45 continues After wrapping up a series of meetings with all nine cabinet-level agency secretaries on Gov. Beverly Perdue’s Executive Order 45, SEANC Member Strength Director Kevin LeCount and Intergovernmental Liaison Linda Sutton met with Linda Coleman, Director of the N.C. Office of State Personnel, and Carl Dean, Governmental Liaison with the Office of State Personnel, to plan the next steps in the process of establishing agency steering groups so that SEANC members can have meaningful input at their worksites.

SEANC featured in Business NC cover story SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope and Second Vice President Doranna Anderson were featured in the Business North Carolina magazine cover story “State of the Unions” in the January 2012 edition. The article details the growing importance of and backlash against unions in the state. SEANC member and N.C. State History Professor David Zonderman also offers his expert opinion in the article.

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

SEIU Convention nominations due Feb. 3 The official notice of election procedures for attending the SEIU International Convention, May 27-29 in Denver, Colo., is in February’s edition of The Reporter. The Reporter also contained a form for submitting nominations, which must be received no later than Feb. 3.

SEANC will take approximately 56 delegates to the convention this year.

Member Discount Take advantage of prime seating at discount prices when the circus comes to town!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents FULLY CHARGED on Feb. 8-12 at the RBC Center in Raleigh. Save $4 per ticket on weekend shows and up to $12 Off Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday shows with your SEANC membership. To receive the discount, fill out and submit this form.

State Employees Association of North Carolina The SEANC Scoop January 27, 2012 Perdue won't seek re-election

Gov. Bev Perdue announced Thursday she would not seek a second term as governor.

SEANC appreciates her service to North Carolina and we will continue to work in partnership with her to make our state a great place to work and live. Read more on her decision here.

Click here to read the February Reporter!

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State leaders join next week's T.E.A.M! conference

Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis will speak at SEANC’s T.E.A.M! Training Conference at Great Wolf Lodge in Concord on Feb. 1-3. Tillis will speak on Thursday and Dalton is scheduled for Friday. Enrollment for the event has reached maximum capacity. Look for live updates and photos on SEANC’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

Who's going to fill her shoes?

After Perdue’s announcement Thursday, Dalton announced his bid for governor, while other possible Democratic contenders include former State Treasurer Richard Moore, U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre and Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx. Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, who lost to Perdue in 2008, is likely to announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination next week. Read about the upcoming race here.

SEANC looks forward to meeting with all the candidates for governor, regardless of political party, after the filing deadline. No matter who runs for governor, we will continue to be an issue-driven, nonpartisan organization and we trust our members to provide direction for the association in due time as the 2012 election nears. For SEANC’s full statement, click here.

SEIU Convention forms now online

Members can find guidelines and forms pertaining to the election of delegates to the 2012 SEIU Convention, to be held May 27-30 in Denver, Colo., online. The deadline for nominating delegates is Feb. 3. Approximately 57 SEANC delegates (five statewide and 52 district-level) will be selected to attend the convention. Colo. Any SEANC member in good standing for two years prior to the convention is eligible, and more than one member from a district can be nominated. For more on the election process, click here.

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

Member Discount

Want to come face-to-face with exotic fish, sharks and sting rays? Visit the Ripley’s Aquarium for a family adventure with creatures from the deep blue sea! SEANC members save $4 off regular ticket prices. More details are available here.