With just a few weeks left before the new year, SEANC and employees are still struggling to get answers on a new retirement system at UNC Health and ECU Health.

UNC Health and ECU Health will place new employees hired after Jan. 1, 2024, into a new retirement system separate from the Teachers and State Employees Retirement System as mandated by the state budget.

Current employees can also leave the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System (TSERS) for the new plan.

SEANC President Kirk Montgomery and Executive Director Ardis Watkins visited the UNC Employee Forum meeting on Wednesday to discuss the plan with members. Watkins told the group that the scheme would cost the state, taxpayers, and retirees billions.

"Everyone has a lot of questions. This was a Senate bill that never went through the House, and then it winds up in the budget," she told forum members. "I haven't seen anything educating folks about what's at risk for them."

SEANC strongly encourages current employees to stick with TSERS and has launched a website to provide all the information we can, including questions they should be asking.