Legislature chooses to HOARD MONEY rather than tackle the state's severe recruitment and retention problems
SEANC was the most prominent voice actively and loudly speaking out against a state budget proposal from the legislature that fell short of recognizing state employees and retirees with significant and necessary pay increases.
Legislators passed their budget and adjourned the short session on July 1.
SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins released a statement shortly after the budget announcement. She also appeared on numerous television shows and in articles to plead our case that legislators should go back to the drawing board and come up with a real plan to tackle recruitment and retention problems.
“The State of North Carolina has record staff vacancy rates, but the
legislature is choosing to hoard money rather than give state employees reason to stay,” Watkins said in a statement. “Budgets are always about priorities. This budget shows state employees and retirees that they are not a priority.”
SEANC members sent more than 3,800 emails to legislators explaining the challenges of working for the state and the need for more investment in the state’s workforce.
In the end, neither Republicans nor Democrats showed an appetite for a fight. All Republicans and many Democrats voted “yes” on the budget. It passed both the House and Senate with veto-proof majorities.
The General Assembly adjourned the short session after the budget vote. In short sessions, there is usually little interest in taking on contentious issues, and this year was no different. Our lobbyists
have received assurances from legislative leadership that state employee and retiree raises will be significant in next year’s session, and we will hold them to that promise.
2022 BUDGET
• 3.5% pay increase for most state employees — a 1% increase from the 2.5% raise already budgeted.
• DPS employees who are currently on step-pay plans receive an additional 2% for a 4.5% total raise.
• 4% one-time supplement for retirees.
• Minimum wage increase for non-certified school employees to $15 per hour.
• Longevity pay maintained for active state employees.
• Protection of employees' personnel records.
• State Health Plan fully funded. No premium increase for the fifth consecutive year.
• Teachers and State Employees Retirement System fully funded. Employer contribution is now 17.38%.
• Opportunity for employees to use or cash in special bonus leave benefits that accrued.
Big Hospitals reap massive growth in profits, cash and investments using taxpayer-funded COVID relief money
State Treasurer Dale Folwell held a press conference on June 22 to release the findings of a peer-reviewed report that shows that the state’s big hospitals compiled record surpluses thanks to COVID relief funds.
Even as they complained of financial losses, wealthy hospital systems enjoyed record profits and a massive $7.1 billion growth in cash and investments during the pandemic.
These hospital systems recorded those profits after taking $1.5 billion in taxpayer-funded COVID relief, as well as another $1.6 billion in Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments. It is unclear why the large systems needed
the relief.
Atrium Health alone was sitting on $7 billion in cash and investments. Most systems had enough cash on hand to operate for more than half a year without any incoming revenue — or even 10 times as long as many rural hospitals.
Treasurer Folwell said the research results were unsettling. He called on these hospital systems to use their massive profits to lower costs for patients and to increase charity care to a level equal to or above their lucrative tax breaks — or to return the unnecessary, taxpayer-funded relief.
“Some things are worth getting mad
about. The hospital cartel is using taxpayer dollars to help crush the middle class and rob lower-income families of upward mobility," Treasurer Folwell said. “Wealthy hospitals took billions of taxpayer dollars meant to protect struggling hospitals — and then some billed poor families or even sued patients.”
SEANC stands with Folwell on these issues to ensure the long-term health and affordability of the State Health Plan. Without transparency, health care costs for members will continue to rise, and the hospitals will continue to get richer and richer at our expense.
SCHOLARSHIP
The SEANC Scholarship Foundation, Retiree Council and SEANC districts across the state announced they are awarding approximately $120,000 in scholarships. $40,000 of that is being given out by the statewide SEANC Scholarship Foundation to 45 deserving students. The five categories of statewide scholarships include: Member-Only, TwoYear Merit, Two Year Financial, FourYear Merit and Four Year Financial.
Sylvia
Retiree Grandchild
Aniya Bush UNC Charlotte Daughter of District 26 member Creo McIver Department of Public Safety
MEMBERS IN ACTION
District 22 hosted an employee appreciation event at Hope Mills Middle School on May 3, and an employee appreciation breakfast at the N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality Office in Fayetteville on May 17.
SEANC participated in the NCPPA Annual Training. Pictured are Durham Sheriff Clarence Birkhead, Member Relations Rep. Felicia Powell and Durham Mayor Pro Tempore Mark-Anthony Middleton.
District 25 hosted a food truck/free lunch event on May 24 to show appreciation for UNC Chapel Hill employees.
Fayetteville State University Chancellor Darrell T. Allison and new campus Chief of Police, Roberto E. Bryan, Jr. joined SEANC on June 7 for some food and fun prizes. We also had the privilege of making Chief Bryan a SEANC member.
During the May Board of Governors' Meeting, EMPAC-endorsed candidate for U.S. Senate Cheri Beasley met with the Board. Pictured above left are Benevolence Chair Deborah Fleming, District 4 Chair Caroline Dedmon, President Martha Fowler, Candidate Beasley and Vice President Kirk Montgomery.
SEANC had a great time at the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on June 29 feeding state employees and giving them some information about SEANC.
SEANC held a Leadership Training April 27-29 at the SEANC office in Raleigh. During this three-day training, participants learned important leadership techniques that can be applied to their SEANC work, as well as, to their personal and social lives.
17 sponsored a state employee
District
appreciation lunch at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro on May 10.
MEMBERS IN ACTION
Members of SEANC's Select Committee on Prison Safety were in Washington, DC, on May 12, along with President Martha T. Fowler and Executive Director Ardis Watkins, to lobby members of Congress on correctional officer concerns.
District 38 recently partnered with Juvenile Justice Education Central Office staff to provide “goodies” in honor of Educator Appreciation Week 2022. These items of gratitude were distributed to educators working in the eleven North Carolina Juvenile Detention Centers and Youth Development Centers.
SEANC served state employees a Capital City Cuisine lunch and Jay’s Italian Ice on Cinco de Mayo Day at Halifax Mall in Raleigh.
SEANC was a proud sponsor of NCCA North Central Region Vision Conference on June 23 at Wake Technical Community College Northern Campus. Pictured is Harnett Correction Warden Cathy Judge, Prison Reform Chair Deborah Harney, Asst. Deputy Commissioner Brandeshawn Harris and Second Vice President Wendell Powell.
District 56 provided lunch in May for Weldon City Schools' teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. Pictured is SEANC Member Relations Representative Gloria Evans (far left) and some of the Weldon School teachers.
Districts 5, 6 and 7 sponsored a food truck event on June 16 in Morganton. Pictured are (top left) District 5 members Johnny Burnette and Tony Smith; (top right) District 7 member Sandra Bristol; District 6 members Shenita Martin and Chuck Scruggs.
District 42 visited the Office of Rural Health’s staff meeting on May 13 at Pullen Park in Raleigh to meet with employees and spread the word about SEANC (pictured at left). In June, District 42 sponsored Community Health and Wellness Fair in Knightdale.
District 20 hosted appreciation events in Hoke and Moore Counties in June at NCWorks, courthouses, DMV, and Probation and Parole offices. Pictured are District 20 member (and SEANC employee) Jacque Chatman, and Hoke County DMV examiners.
Districts 61 provided lunch for the employees at Sampson County Courthouse and Probation/ Parole on June 22.
District 3 sponsored the 15th Annual Memorial Lois W. Forrester Golf Tournament on May 5. Pictured are first place team members Tripp Shaw, Director of Member Services C.J. Stephens, Dan Shanahan and Chris Carrigan.
During the May Retiree Council meeting, retired Executive Director Mitch Leonard was presented with the 2021 Bob Hopper Award from Past President Duane Smith for his dedication to retiree issues.
Contact N.C. Retirement Systems at 877-627-3287 with address updates, questions about your retirement check or deductions. 2022 RETIREE PAY DATES Nov. 23 Dec. 22. Aug. 25 Sept. 23 Oct. 25
Dates pension checks are direct deposited to your bank account or checks are mailed:
SUBMITTED BY TERESA JOHNSON
SUBMITTED BY GLORIA EVANS
State employees are good people. But even good people make mistakes mistakes that violate your rights as a career employee, discriminate against you, or cost you a promotion or
I’ve practiced law for over 20 years, including 10 years as a Wake County district court judge. I’ve got the experience you need to guide you through your personnel case.
If you have a grievance, disciplinary appeal, or any state employment matter, call (919) 624-5171 or email me at jennifer@jenniferknoxlaw.com.
