Positive session for many state employees, retirees comes to a close.

After two weeks of skeleton meetings and unsuccessful attempts to wrap up, legislative leaders in the House and Senate finally agreed to an adjournment resolution Wednesday that ends the 2014 legislative session.

Lawmakers had previously indicated that they would be back in November to take up Medicaid reform and other issues, but with the budget and a plan to deal with coal ash approved, the General Assembly decided to push Medicaid to 2015 and bring their work to an end for the year.

For state employees, the highlight of the session was the largest overall compensation increase since 2007-2008. Lawmakers approved a $1,000 raise for most state employees and five bonus days of vacation that they will be able to carry over from year to year. For retirees, the highlight was a 1 percent cost-of-living adjustment.

Overall, SEANC achieved five of its Top 10 Policy Platform Objectives, as well as numerous other items important to North Carolina’s public services and the people who provide them. Among those:

• Preserved Children’s Developmental Services Agencies
• Fully Funded Retirement System
• Maintained Defined Benefit Retirement Plan
• Due Process Rights Maintained
• Maintained SEANC Dues Deductions

For the full list, click here.

Now SEANC lobbyists and members are preparing for 2015 and the challenges to come.  Among the concerns that SEANC will be watching closely are Medicaid reform and its impact on state employees, the state Treasurer’s efforts to enshrine pension secrecy, the continued movement toward privatization in the Department of Transportation and the continued discussions among lawmakers about privatization in other state agencies.

In the meantime, delegates to the 31^st Annual SEANC Convention will vote on a series of new and existing policy platforms, which will be used to create next year’s top 10 and other policy objectives. A list of those proposals can be found here.

Members! Make Your Action Plan for Next Year Now!

Even though the 2014 legislative session has come to a close, it’s important that you stay involved. Your legislators need constant reminding of the need to value vital public services and the people who provide them. Not sure who your legislators are? Find out here.

With elections fast approaching in November, there are likely to be plenty of opportunities to meet and talk to your legislators and other candidates. Please know that if they do not hear directly from state employees and retirees, they will believe you are satisfied with what was done this year in terms of employee pay raises, the retiree COLA, and the overall treatment of public services vital to North Carolina. However, while we are appreciative, we know General Assembly can do better next year.

In the meantime, stay tuned to SEANC for information regarding candidate endorsements by EMPAC. Meetings are going on now and endorsement decisions will be forthcoming.

Finally, if at any point you hear your job is in jeopardy due to potential legislative action, please contact SEANC’s Legislative Affairs team as soon as possible. The earlier we know of potential concerns in your workplace, the quicker we can help you.

To follow what’s happening in the General Assembly and what SEANC is doing to protect state employees and retirees and taxpayer dollars both during and outside of the legislative session, subscribe to the SEANC Scoop and read our weekly Legislative Update. Also, be sure to sign up for our email alerts.

You can also sign up for special Member Action Alert text messages. Just type the word SEANC into the body of a text and send it to the number 787753.

The SEANC Legislative Update is published when the N.C. General Assembly is in session by SEANC’s Legislative Affairs Department. You can follow along as news happens by liking SEANC on Facebook, following SEANC on Twitter, watch us on YouTube or pin with us on Pinterest.