Issuu

Cooper is the clear choice for governor

The statewide committee of EMPAC, the political arm of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, voted in late July to endorse Roy Cooper for Governor of North Carolina.

The endorsement came after the committee’s extensive interviews with both Cooper and his opponent, incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory.

Cooper, who has served as the state’s Attorney General for the past 15 years, is more than qualified for the position. EMPAC is confident he will be a champion for state employees and retirees in the Governor’s Mansion.

“Devoting his own life to public service, Roy Cooper understands the issues facing state employees and retirees firsthand,” said EMPAC Statewide Chairman Tony Smith. “Those issues are the same ones facing all working families in North Carolina. He’s an advocate for the middle class who will not work against our members for corporate profits. We proudly stand with him in this election.”

As of early August, polls showed a tight race between Cooper and McCrory, meaning that support from unified SEANC members could make the difference.

If you’ll recall, McCrory’s 2016 budget proposal called for no true pay raises or cost-of-living adjustments for retirees, despite the fact that state employees and retirees have fallen behind the cost of living by around 10 percent since 2010.

In the final days of this year's budget debate, SEANC members called on McCrory to support the House’s proposal for true pay raises and COLAs. He didn’t, and state employees were left with inadequate raises and small bonuses, while retirees got a one-time bonus that will not help them keep up with the price of goods and services and will largely be taken by the tax man.

“McCrory had a chance in the most recent state budget debate to stand up for state employees and retirees,” Smith said. “He chose not to, which means another year where our members will fall behind the cost of living. It’s time for a change.”

To add insult to injury, he took $500,000 of emergency response funds at the close of session to pay for legal fees to defend his bill on bathrooms. Essentially, each state employee and retiree gave up $5 to support HB2. McCrory even singled out SEANC specifically in an attack late last year. In an attempt to silence the association's members, he rescinded an executive order that allowed members to participate in SEANC’s annual convention and granted employees the right to “meet and confer” with agency leadership over issues they see at their workplace.

SEANC looks forward to supporting Cooper in the upcoming election, and urges you to do the same. Even if you are a Republican, as a SEANC member the choice for your bank account and your future is obvious. Please tell your friends, family members and coworkers to vote for Cooper as well.

N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper and SEANC First Vice President Stanley Drewery discuss the issues facing state employees and retirees.

JONATHAN

SEANC ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

The SEANC Scholarship Foundation and SEANC districts across the state announced they are awarding more than $100,000 in awards; $38,500 of that is being given out by the statewide SEANC Scholarship Foundation to 47 well-deserving students. The five categories of statewide scholarships include:

 Four-year financial — a $1,000 scholarship to attend a four-year college or university.

 Four-year merit — a $1,000 merit scholarship to attend a four-year college or university.

 Two-year financial — a $500 scholarship to attend a community college, technical school or trade school.

 Two-year merit — a $500 merit scholarship to attend a community college, technical school or trade school.

 Member only — a $500 scholarship awarded to SEANC members.

Four-Year Financial ($1,000)

Molly Macchia

Lenoir

Lenoir Rhyne University

Daughter of District 5 member

Angela Macchia

Caldwell County Schools

Liliah Andrews Mooresville

UNC-Wilmington

Daughter of District 7 member

William Bryan Andrews Dept. of Transportation

Brandon Glover

Cleveland N.C. State University

Son of District 9 member

Jacob Shane Glover

Dept. of Transportation

Halo Paul

New London

UNC-Charlotte

Daughter of District 10 member

Paul Efird

Dept. of Public Safety

Brache’ Baucum-Porter

Winston-Salem

UNC-Charlotte

Son of District 16 member

Pamela Baucum

Winston-Salem State University

Two-Year Financial ($500)

Nathan Huffman

Hickory

Lenoir-Rhyne University

Son of District 5 member

Ned Huffman

Dept. of Public Safety

Mary Parker

Rocky Mount

Safari Richardson

Greensboro

N.C. State University

Daughter of District 17 member

Shronda Roseborough Dept. of Revenue

Shaunee’ McLaurin

Laurinburg

UNC-Pembroke

Daughter of District 18 member

Iris Lockhart Dept. of Public Safety

Mikaela Olmstead

Cameron

High Point University

Daughter of District 20 member

Sandra Olmsted

Central Carolina Community College

Darnisha Pulley

Oxford

UNC-Charlotte

Daughter of District 21 member

Catherine Demming

Dept. of Health and Human Services

Gabrielle Cates

Roxboro

East Carolina University

Daughter of District 25 member

Gabrial Cates

UNC-Chapel Hill

Nash Community College

Daughter of District 46

member Mary Parker

Jamisen Moore

Durham

UNC-Greensboro

Daughter of District 27 member

Melody Moore Retired

Jasmine Walker

Ocala, Florida

Virginia Union University

Daughter of District 58 member

Willie Walker Retired

Elondia Grant Goldsboro

Campbell University

Daughter of District 60 member

Patricia Grant Retired

Andrew Tengue

Wilmington

UNC-Wilmington

Son of District 62 member

Lynn Teague New Hanover County Schools

Traniqua Felton

South Mills

East Carolina University

Daughter of District 69 member

Angela Felton Dept. of Health and Human Services

Joseph Sutton

Fremont

Wayne Community College

Son of District 59 member

Carolyn Sutton Dept. of Health and Human Services

Dept. of Revenue Haley Cannon

Daughter of District 65 member

SEANC ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Jacob Berry

Dept. of Health and Human Services Four-Year

Rutherford College

Wake Forest University

Son of District 6 member

Mark Berry

William Boldizar

Wilmington

Duke University

Son of District 62 member

Nanci Boldizar

UNC-Wilmington

Abby Fogarty Gastonia

UNC-Chapel Hill

Daughter of District 9 member

David Fogarty

N.C. State University

Wendy Hall

Liberty

UNC-Wilmington

Daughter of District 17 member

Kimberly Hall

Randolph County Schools

Melanie Hardee

Benson

N.C. State University

Daughter of District 38 member

Delmon Hardee Dept. of Agriculture

Lanna McKinney

Nebo

Western Piedmont Community College

Daughter of District 5 member

Gary McKinney Dept. of Public Safety

Jada Hester

Wake Forest

N.C. State University

Daughter of District 42 member

Martavyrene Hester

Dept. of Health and Human Services

Callan Loflin

Denton

Duke University

Daughter of District 16 member

Cheree Loflin

Davidson County Schools

Andi Morgan

Shelby

UNC-Chapel Hill

Daughter of District 4 member

Donnie Morgan Dept. of Transportation

Emily Neville Linden

N.C. State University

Daughter of District 22

Ellen Neville

Cumberland County Schools

Matthew Parker Carthage

N.C. State University

Son of District 20 member

Michael Parker Retiree

Andrew Widener Thomasville

Davidson County Community

Son of District 16 member

Claude Widener

Jessica Keyser Goldsboro

Wayne Community College

Daughter of District 59

member Tricia Keyser Dept. of Health and Human Services

Alexander Spencer

West Jefferson

N.C. State University

Son of District 8 member

Stephanie Spencer Ashe County Schools

Lindsay Stone

Laurinburg

N.C. State University

Daughter of District 24 member

Donna Stone

Dept. of Public Safety

Katelyn Vause

Richlands

Lenoir-Rhyne University

Daughter of District 61 member

Robert Vause

Dept. of Transportation

Zachary Walker

Raleigh

UNC-Chapel Hill

Son of District 39 member

Michael Walker

N.C. State University`

Ashley Weingartz

Greenville

East Carolina University

Daughter of District 65 member

Ann Weingartz

East Carolina University

Zacchaeus Rasberry

LaGrange

Louisburg College

Son of District 66 member

Maurice Rasberry

Dept. of Health and Human Services

(Continued on Page 4)

SEANC ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Sheila Renea Winchester Whittier

Southwestern Community College

Member of District 1

Southwestern Technical College

Ellen Dorean Hayes

Blowing Rock East Tennessee State Univesity

Member of District 3 Dept. of Public Safety

Chenell Rose Charlotte Capella University

Member of District 12 Dept. of Public Safety

Shauna Burger Gastonia Belmont Abbey College

Member of District 13 Central Piedmont Community College

Rosa McAllister-McRae Raeford

Wingate University

Member of District 20 Sandhills Community College

Rashia Norman Fayetteville State University

Member of District 22 Dept. of Public Safety

John Mwawana Goldsboro

Lenoir Community College

Member of District 59 Dept. of Health and Human Services

Octavius Shelley Winterville

Pitt Community College

Member of District 64 Dept. of Health and Human Services

Rhonda Parker Kinston East Carolina University

Member of District 66 Dept. of Health and Human Services

SEANC stops attempt to change hiring practices

SEANC scored an unexpected but important victory on the last night of the 2016 General Assembly short session on July 1, when lobbyists stopped a sneaky attempt to drastically change state hiring practices found in a technical corrections bill.

The final day of the session stretched right up to midnight, with a flurry of bills being passed up until the final gavel. The end of session is a dangerous time for state employees and retirees. You never know what kind of harmful legislation will find its way into a seemingly bland bill. SEANC’s lobbyists were observant enough to catch a small but critical change in a bill and garnered enough support to defeat it.

Technical corrections bills, by definition, are supposed to be noncontroversial bills that only change things like grammatical errors or other “technical” problems in statutes. This particular bill would have taken the word “most” out in front of “qualified candidate” in a statute on state employee hiring. If you’ll recall, this is a fight we had with the Office of State Human Resources last year and each of the last three years.

Taking out “most” would allow the governor or any other hiring manager, many of whom are political appointees, to hire

anyone they deemed qualified for a job, even if there was a state employee seeking the job that was more qualified. In essence, taking out that one word changes all of the hiring practices of state government.

SEANC worked with many in the House who agreed that the change was too big to be in a technical corrections bill. Through the leadership of House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland), Rep. Nelson Dollar (R-Wake), Rep. David Lewis (R-Harnett), Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth), Rep. Pat Hurley (R-Randolph), Rep. Darren Jackson (D-Wake), Rep. Mitchell Setzer (R-Catawba), Rep. Jonathan Jordan (R-Ashe), Rep. Larry Hall (D-Durham), Rep. Michael Wray (D-Halifax), Rep. Susi Hamilton (D-New Hanover), Rep. George Cleveland (R-Onslow ) and others, the bill was amended in our favor by a 98-0 vote.

SEANC thanks all of the members who worked hard this session on behalf of state employees and the public services they provide. We also urge you to continue to build a relationship with your legislators, and remind them that you will be voting in November.

REPORTER THE

Jonathan owens, Editor-In-Chief

Beth Dew, Managing Editor amanDa wise, Associate Editor sara Cowell CoBurn, Associate Editor

State Employees Association of North Carolina 1621 Midtown Place • Raleigh, NC 27609 Telephone 919-833-6436, 800-222-2758 www.seanc.org

Advertising Policy

SEANC accepts advertising material from companies and persons seeking to communicate with SEANC members. Acceptance of this advertising does not indicate SEANC approval or endorsement of any representation that the message, product or service is as represented by the advertiser. SEANC accepts no responsibility and shall not be liable for any use of or reliance on any such information, product or service. SEANC is a private entity and is under no obligation to carry advertisements of any nature, political or otherwise, that may be viewed as contrary to the interests of the association and its membership.

33RD ANNUAL SEANC

Candidates for SEANC statewide office announced

SEANC leadership for 2016-2017 will be determined by approximately 850 delegates at the 33rd Annual SEANC Convention on Sept. 9. SEANC Bylaws require members to announce their candidacy in writing or in person to the Board of Governors no later than 45 days prior to the annual convention or nominations can be submitted from the convention floor. Statewide officer terms are for one year and begin Oct. 1, 2016, and run through Sept. 30, 2017. Officers may hold the same office for two consecutive years. President Ross Hailey of District 58 is not seeking re-election this year.

PRESIDENT

Stanley Drewery of District 67 retired with 30 years of state service with both the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety and has been a member of SEANC for 33 years. He currently serves as First Vice President. He is a veteran and served six years in the Army National Guard. He is a Grifton resident.

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Gloria Evans of District 65 is the current Second Vice President. She has been a SEANC member and state employee for 14 years. She works at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine. She holds a degree from Martin Community College. She is a Greenville resident.

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

Darius McLaurin is chairman of District 40. He has been a SEANC member for 10 years and has worked for the state for 23 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Johnson C. Smith University. He is a Raleigh resident.

GENERAL TREASURER

Marilyn Jean Martin is chairwoman of District 12 and retired from the Department of Public Safety with 34 years of state service. She has been a SEANC member for 35 years. Martin holds an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice.

Chevella Thomas of District 27 is a 31-year member of SEANC and retired as an Accountant in the Division of Administration and Finance in the Comptroller Department with 33 years of service. She holds bachelors' degrees in accounting and management and a master’s degree in information sciences from N.C. Central as well. She resides in Durham.

STATEWIDE EMPAC CHAIRMAN

Tony Smith, a District 5 member, is a 22-year state employee and SEANC member. He is the current statewide EMPAC Chairman. Smith is a Maintenance Supervisor IV for the Department of Public Safety. He is a Morganton resident.

Bylaws amendments to be decided at convention

SEANC’s Bylaws Committee met on July 20 to discuss proposed amendments passed at district meetings. Eleven were passed by the committee and will be voted on at the convention. Delegates will decide on:

• Amendments to increase membership dues to maintain the financial stability of SEANC.

• An amendment to clarify membership privileges to include active and retired members being permitted to work for SEANC on a temporary or part-time basis for special projects.

• An amendment stating that the SEANC Chief Financial Officer will report directly to the Executive Director and the Board of Governors with daily oversight by the Executive Director.

• Amendments necessary for the Audit Committee to assist the President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer in the oversight of all SEANC financial matters; revise the designation/election of officers who were elected by the

SEANC membership; clarify that all members of the committee will have financial-related experience, not just at-large members, and to provide for 12 members with staggered terms.

• An amendment to rename the Youth Council to Emerging Leaders Council and delete the age restriction. Renaming the council allows for a new branding effort to welcome any and all interested persons in this association who would like to become a leaders. A name change will better reflect the council's new purpose.

• An amendment to hold a convention every other year beginning October 1, 2020. Districts could use their funds for more local outreach programs, membership activities and membership training.

• An amendment based on the need to receive all amendments in time for the State Bylaws Advisory Committee to have time to prepare for the July Board of Governors meeting.

Drewery Evans

Thomas

Martin

Smith

McLaurin

SEANC CONVENTION

• Elect statewide SEANC officers.

What’s Happening @ Convention 2016!

• Decide the fate of bylaws amendments that will shape the future of the organization.

• Determine SEANC’s Top 10 Policy Platform Objectives.

• Enjoy the Saturday evening “A Night With The SEANC Stars” banquet, when officers will be inducted and SEANC awards will be presented.*

• Take part in the N.C. Spin live show on issues facing state employees and retirees.

• Donate to the community service project to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.*

*Participation in all banquets and the community service project is optional for attendees.

Convention

Delegate Checklist

Get a jump start on convention activities. Visit seanc.org/the-33rdannual-seanc-convention for more information.

o Study the proposed policy platform objectives and bylaws amendments up for consideration.

o Bring funds to donate to the SEANC Make-A-Wish Foundation through the community service project.

o Find out more about special events.

o Study the list of statewide candidates. Do you have questions about convention? Contact Alicia Miller, CMP, at amiller@seanc.org 919-833-6436 or 800-222-2758.

BUNCOMBE COUNTY BLITZ

One week, ten stops, a barbecue food truck and 90 new members sum up SEANC's fantastic week in Buncombe County. Ten stops were made across the county at the Children's Developmental Services Agency, Department of Environmental Quality, Community Corrections, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the Asheville Department of Motor Vehicles.

In addition to making stops at state agency offices, SEANC greeted members with breakfast at Dunkin Donuts in Swannanoa, provided lunch via Appalachian Smoke BBQ food truck across from the Black Mountain Neuro Medical Treatment Center and wrapped up the week with a "40 and Under" event at Bonfire BBQ.

SEANC sends a special thanks to District 2 members for their hard work, ensuring a successful week. Thanks to everyone in Buncombe County who made us feel so welcome.

Photography by Amanda Wise

■ Disciplinary Appeals

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■ Law Enforcement Certification

State employees are good people. But even good people make mistakesmistakes that violate your rights as a career employee, discriminate against you, or cost you a promotion or job.

My practice is restricted to state personnel disciplinary and licensing matters. I have litigated personnel cases in the Office of Administrative Hearings since the 1990s.

If you have a grievance, disciplinary appeal, or any state employment matter, call (919) 865-2572 or email me at michael@mbyrnelawnc.com.

Learn how I put 20 years of experience and consistent success in state personnel cases to work for you - when your rights are on the line.

LAW OFFICES OF MICHAEL C. BYRNE

W ACHOVIA C APITOL C ENTER, S UITE 1130

150 F AYETTEVILLE S TREET, R ALEIGH, NC 27601 (919) 865-2572

www.ncsecu.org

ELECTION 2016

HOW ? did we get HERE

Editor's Note: EMPAC endorsed Dale Folwell, CPA, for the office of State Treasurer in April. Here he lays out his case for your support in November.

In July, the State Treasurer released annual performance figures for your pension fund. They showed the plan’s rate of return was less than 1 percent for the period. The plan’s assumed rate of return of 7.5 percent has not been achieved on average for the past 15-year period!

Why does this matter?

State employees are relying on the pension and health care plans to fulfill the financial promises made to them when they retire. The ability to fulfill those promises is based on the plans being able to produce enough income (rate of return) to pay out retirement benefits to state employees, educators, firefighters and others.

Adding to the strain of the plan’s poor performance is the fact that people are living longer and investment fees paid to Wall Street are in the hundreds of millions of dollars per year. Often state pensioners will actually be retired longer than they work. This is evident by the fact that last year the state paid out $2 billion more than it took in. This trend is unsustainable. It will result in a plan that was once 110-percent funded, but is now approaching an 85-percent funded rate in the near future.

Not an insurmountable challenge.

This is not the first time that I’ve been presented with a challenge that

seemed insurmountable. In 2013, I was asked to lead the Division of Employment Security (DES) as the N.C. Assistant Secretary of Commerce. That year our unemployment system was ranked 52nd in the United States for quality and service, behind even Guam and Puerto Rico. Making matters worse, it was $2.7 billion in debt to the federal government with resulting surcharges being paid by North Carolina businesses of $600 million a year.

When I arrived at DES the waste, fraud and abuse was astonishing. For example, I found a phone line to nowhere that cost $24,000 a month as well as a magazine subscription that cost $4,500 a year. If the waste, fraud and abuse I find as Treasurer totals only 1 percent, then that will free up $1 billion dollars that can be used to assure that promises are kept to state employees as well as provide funding for other important state functions like education.

Where are we going?

I’ve spent my entire career raising my hand to volunteer for the toughest jobs and not letting anything get between me and my work. We are blessed with the best state workers in the country. Perhaps the question should not be “how did we get here?” but “where are we going?” As your next Treasurer, together we are going to attack problems, not people, find solutions and get results for the state’s employees who are also taxpayers.

Citizens often thank you for being public servants. As we approach the November election, it’s important that

you know that it’s the next N.C. Treasurer, not the President, who is going to make the biggest difference in your life.

That’s the reason I want to make three promises to you.

My three promises to you:

From the time I’m sworn in, until the end of my first term, we will reduce investment fees by at least $100 million.

We will put the State Health Plan in a position to recommend the freezing of family premiums for four years, encouraging state employees to remain in the state plan and giving them financial certainty that their health care premiums will remain stable.

I will never accept outside compensation or responsibility that takes one ounce of energy away from the task you and other voters entrusted me to accomplish.

Please show this to your friends and family, because I’m not only asking for your vote and support, but the votes and support of your friends and family. I look forward to serving you as the next N.C. Treasurer.

Dale Folwell, CPA NC State Treasurer Candidate

2016 Legislative Results

Longevity pay saved, secured small pay increase

• Retained longevity pay

• 1.5% across the board pay raise

• 0.5% across the board bonus

• 1% merit bonus (no structure for awarding these increases was laid out in the budget)

One-time bonus for retirees

• 1.6% one time bonus instead of a true COLA. For the average retiree receiving $25,000 annually from the system, the bonus will amount to around $380 before taxes are taken out.

Stopped harmful changes to the State Health Plan

• Elimination of 80/20 plan stopped by SEANC

• Plans to eliminate spousal coverage stopped

• Changes in benefits and costs are coming in 2017

Ensured retirement security, funding

• Full funding of the retirement system for the sixth year in a row by a legislative (employer) contribution of 9.15 percent to the Retirement System

• Ensured continuation of the defined benefit retirement plan for current and future state retirees

Exposed privatization efforts at DOT

• Brought to light attempted mass privatization in the Department of Transportation . SEANC worked to amend the House budget to stop outsourcing until DOT could show cost savings. The Senate never took up the amendment so DOT can move forward with their outsourcing without showing proof of actual savings to the taxpayers.

Stopped attempt to take away retiree rights and set minimum retirement age

• A bill that would have taken away a retiree's right to have dues, insurance premiums and PAC donations deducted from their pension check, as well as set a minimum retirement age of 55 for all future employees came before a House committee. SEANC was able to amend a bill in committee to remove the harmful provisions on payroll deduction and minimum retirement age.

Results by the Numbers

• House bills reviewed by SEANC: 206

• Senate bills reviewed by SEANC: 208

• Committee meetings covered: 223

Ensured freedom in supplemental insurance choice

• Fought off an attempt to move decisions on which supplemental insurance products employees could choose from agency committees to a centralized committee and to take SEANC's payroll deduction slot for sale of insurance products. The bill was never heard in committee despite backing from members of Senate leadership.

Thwarted attempt to change hiring statutes

• A change in a technical corrections bill would have taken the word "most" out in front of "qualified candidate" in a statute on state employee hiring. Taking out "most" would allow the governor or any other hiring manager to hire anyone they deemed qualified for a job, even if there were a state employee seeking the job who was more qualified. In essence, taking out that one word changes all of the hiring practices of state government.

BIGGEST THREATS FOR NEXT SESSION

• Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR) has come in many different forms of legislations throughout the past five years. Undoubtedly, this will be introduced next session in some form or fashion. TABOR would require a constitutional amendment that would cap the state's income tax rate at 5.5%. While this may seem like a good thing, it will negatively affect those who make the least (the vast majority of state employees) as well as the vital services that state employees provide. It would be unlikely that current or retired state employees would see pay raises or cost-of-living adjustments if this were to pass.

• Transitioning from the Defined Benefit Retirement Plan (pension) to a Defined Contribution Plan (401k).

• Privatization in all of its forms.

• Taking of dues deduction rights

1621 Midtown Place

Raleigh, NC 27609

EMPAC Announces Council of State Endorsements

The statewide committee of EMPAC, the political arm of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, announced in early August its endorsements for nine Council of State seats.

In addition to endorsing Roy Cooper for governor, EMPAC’s endorsed candidates are:

• Linda Coleman for Lieutenant Governor

• Dale Folwell for State Treasurer

• Josh Stein for Attorney General

• Elaine Marshall for Secretary of State

• Beth Wood for State Auditor

• June Atkinson for State Superintendent of Public Instruction

• Steve Troxler for Commissioner of Agriculture

• Wayne Goodwin for Commissioner of Insurance

• Charles Meeker for Commissioner of Labor

All candidates for each office were invited to take part in an extensive interview process, which concluded on July 30. EMPAC’s Statewide Committee then voted on the endorsements.

Linda Coleman was endorsed last year for the office of Lieutenant Governor. A longtime SEANC member and advocate for state employees and retirees, Coleman came within 7,000 votes of making history in the 2012 Lieutenant Governor race. She would be the first African-American female to hold the position if she wins her rematch with incumbent Dan Forest.

EMPAC voted in April to endorse Dale Folwell for the Treasurer’s office. Controlling more than $90 billion in retirement investments through the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System as well as the State Health Plan, the treasurer perhaps is the single-most important position on the Council for state employees and retirees. Folwell has pledged to put an end to extravagant fees being paid to Wall Street managers through the retirement fund.