THE
State Employees Association of North Carolina, SEIU Local 2008 1621 Midtown Place, Raleigh, NC 27609 • www.seanc.org 800-222-2758 • 919-833-6436 • Circulation 55,000
September 2014
• Vol. 32, Issue 9
Final Budget Includes Raises, COLAs, Bonus Leave By Jonathan Owens
SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope discusses pay raises and the state budget with Rep. Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) at the General Assembly in July. Moore was named one of SEANC’s Legislators of the Year in 2013 for his efforts to improve the lives of state workers.
After many proposals, tense negotiations and hundreds of phone calls from SEANC members, legislators finally agreed on a budget in late July that increases most active employees’ salaries by $1,000 and retirees’ pension checks with a 1-percent cost-of-living adjustment. SEANC fought for and secured five extra vacation days in the final budget. These five days have no expiration and can be carried over from year to year. The salary increase is the largest for state employees in the last six years. This figure represents a 2.7-percent increase for a state worker making the median salary of $37,000. Add to that the five bonus vacation days, and many state employees will see a total compensation increase of 4.7 percent — the largest such increase since 2007-2008. The impact is even more pronounced for an early career worker making $25,000. For these employees, the pay increase is a 4-percent raise, with a total compensation increase of 6 percent. In addition, Highway Patrol officers, magistrates and clerks of court received a one-step pay increase. Gov. Pat McCrory and the Senate’s proposed budgets contained no bonus vacation days and an $809 pay raise for state employees. SEANC lobbyists worked with lead House budget writer Rep. Nelson Dollar and Senate leader Phil Berger to secure five bonus vacation days in addition to the pay increase. SEANC members stepped up to the plate as budget negotiations dragged on
PHOTO BY TONI DAVIS
SEANC Asst. Director of Communications
Budget Highlights
The amended state budget includes: • $1,000 base salary increase for most active state employees, excluding non-certified education employees, who will see a $500 increase. The pay raise will be retroactive to July 1. • Five bonus days of leave that will not expire for most active state employees. The vacation days go into effect Sept. 1. • One-step pay increases for state troopers, magistrates and clerks of court. • A 1-percent cost-of-living increase for state retirees.
into the summer. Reports from legislative staff members indicate that hundreds of calls came from members concerned that state employees would be left behind in the debate. The budget compromise also allowed state employees to maintain their longevity pay in addition to their pay raise. While some teachers will receive an average of a 7-percent pay increase, that amount is not being shared equally among all. A majority of teachers will receive less than 3 percent
— and some less than 1 percent. Their longevity is also figured into that pay scale. Teacher assistant positions were originally eliminated, but the legislature passed the buck to local government by funding those positions but cutting elsewhere in education, forcing local governments to make hard decisions on whether to keep assistants or pay for teacher raises. All non-certified school personnel were caught in politics, and part of the funds that would have given them an equal raise to other state employees were used for teachers. They will only receive a $500 raise this year. The General Assembly has not adjourned in the traditional sense, and may return to session in mid-November, after the elections, to discuss Medicaid and other matters.As always, SEANC’s lobbyists will be on the ground from gavel to gavel to ensure that your voices are heard. jowens@seanc.org, Twitter @jonbowens