Pay raises, COLAs among topics discussed

SEANC Executive Director Mitch Leonard met with Gov. Pat McCrory at the capitol on Thursday, his first meeting with McCrory as executive director. With budget negotiations right around the corner, pay raises and cost-of-living adjustments are chief among SEANC’s concerns.

The pair discussed the new compensation plan McCrory intends to propose for state employees, along with the governor’s priority of workplace safety in light of the recent deaths of a worker at the state archives building and a DOT worker in Wayne County.

Leonard characterized the meeting as “productive.” He mentioned the association’s strong relationship with leadership in the General Assembly and reiterated that it is his hope to build the same working relationship with McCrory’s administration. The April 15 tax filing deadline passed this week, meaning legislators may have a clear picture of revenue numbers soon. So budget discussions will surely heat up over the next few weeks.

SEANC lobbyists and members also are urging the House and Senate to include a meaningful retiree cost-of-living adjustment in their budget proposals, which the governor did not do. The state Treasurer’s office has also been actively lobbying for a cost-of-living adjustment as well.

Meanwhile, SEANC lobbyists have been monitoring committee meetings and sorting through the massive number of bills being filed before the upcoming crossover deadline of April 30

SEANC monitoring DOT bills

There are two bills of note affecting workers in the Department of Transportation. A Senate bill calling for DOT to follow a mandate in the current budget year to make 81 job cuts by May by eliminating filled, full-time jobs that it can outsource – such as those in road maintenance has been referred to the Senate’s Transportation Committee and will be referred to the Appropriations Committee if it receives a favorable report. And the Senate bill to privatize the DOT’s ferry services – a vital public service for those living, working and visiting along the coast and Outer Banks that carries 2.2 million passengers and 1 million vehicles every year remains a concern. It continues to reside in the Senate Transportation Committee.

SEANC lobbyists are working to prevent the privatization of DOT jobs but we need your help. Now is the time for members – especially those working for DOT – to contact their legislators and explain to them that these vital public services are best performed by state employees.

Cleveland pushing Bailey bill

Rep. George Cleveland (R-Onslow) is pushing leadership to hear House Bill 114 which extends tax exemption to all state retirees as a result of the Bailey Settlement. Currently, state retirees who retired before Aug. 12, 1989, do not have to pay state income taxes on their pensions. SEANC supports extending the exemption to all state retirees because of the positive effect it would have on the state economy and state retirees.

SEANC monitoring retiree health plan bill

A bill to allow state retirees returning to work for the state on a temporary basis to receive health plan benefits continues to reside in the House State Personnel Committee.

The bill, which passed the Senate, would put state retirees who return to work for 30 or more hours per week on a nonpermanent basis in the active employee State Health Plan coverage, and would require state agencies to make the same employer contributions.

Contact your legislators

Now it is the time for you to contact your lawmakers. Make your voice heard on the need for all state employees to receive a pay raise and all retirees to receive a cost-of-living increase. We need all hands on deck. Help your legislators put a face to state employees, SEANC and their constituents. Not sure who your legislators are? Click here.  Curious whether they were endorsed by EMPAC? Click here. Want to make note of all of SEANC’s legislative priorities before talking to them? Click here.

SEANC staff can also help you schedule meetings with your lawmakers and make sure you have the most up-to-date information possible about SEANC’s legislative priorities, so you can have a good and productive conversation. All you have to do is let us know you’re coming. Just email tbooe@seanc.org or call 800-222-2758 or 919-810-0272.

Can’t make it to Raleigh? No problem. You can call, write or email your legislators – or even schedule your own time to meet with them in your hometown. Again, you can find your lawmakers and their contact information here.