SEANC
Folwell blasts state budget provision impacting pension plan participation
More than six weeks after the state’s new $30 billion budget became law, state Treasurer Dale Folwell is raising red flags over changes that could dramatically impact the State Health Plan and pension system. Tucked inside the 625-page spending plan is language that allows UNC Health Care and East Carolina University Health to offer their […]
SEANC director Ardis Watkins on NC’s chronic public employee shortage and pending state budget
Among the many vexing challenges facing state government agencies in North Carolina these days is this: finding and keeping qualified workers. Across the state, job vacancies and turnover are extremely high. Even when agencies find good people, keeping them from departing for better paying jobs in the private sector is often impossible. Fortunately, the causes […]
State budget has plenty of surprises, including lots of earmarks and lower raises than state employees wanted
Developing a state spending plan in secret, North Carolina Republicans used most of the state’s water and sewer improvement money for earmarked projects, lifted financial limits for families who want private school vouchers, and helped subsidize hog industry biogas plans. Republicans released their $27.9 billion budget late Tuesday afternoon and plan to have it pass both House and Senate by the end of the week.
The state’s new hires won’t be able to use the employee health plan at retirement
State employees hired after Jan. 1 will not be eligible for state employee health coverage if they work long enough for North Carolina to retire. Eliminating state health insurance coverage for future retirees was part of the state budget passed in 2017 over the objections of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, the NC […]
State employees association seeks hazard pay as COVID-19 emergency drags on
The State Employees Association of North Carolina is pressing Gov. Roy Cooper, House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate President Phil Berger to approve hazard pay for those state workers who are deemed mandatory yet are unable to practice social distancing. In an open letter, SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins writes the time-and-a-half compensation should be […]
ICYMI: SEANC’s Dana Cope facing tough questions from N&O about purchases (with update on Cope resignation)
UPDATE, 2:20 p.m.: Dana Cope resigned Tuesday afternoon from his position with SEANC, saying he had “blurred the lines between my personal life and my professional life,” according to WRAL. For those who may have missed it, the News & Observer published an investigation this weekend detailing some questionable spending that’s gone at the State […]
Senator proposes bill to de-fund State Employees Association after it opposes him in primary
Well, that didn’t take long. Senate Bill 3 for the 2015 session is entitled: “AN ACT REPEALING PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PAYROLL DEDUCTION FOR PAYMENTS TO EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATIONS.” The sponsor is Senator Ralph Hise (pictured at left). That would be the same Ralph Hise who was opposed by the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) in […]
McCrory signs budget, takes petty swipes at his critics and opponents
Gov. Pat McCrory held a formal signing ceremony to herald his approval of the new FY 2015 state budget this morning. The signing took place around a fancy old desk that was set up in front of some red carpeted stairs in the Governor’s mansion with a group of legislators and administration officials standing in […]