March 10, 2010

Ritz Crackers v. Ritz-Carlton

On March 9, more than 200 State Employees Association of North Carolina members and other health care activists traveled to Washington, D.C., to protest a national conference of the health insurance lobby, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), which took place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.  By confronting AHIP, the health care reform advocates were able to express their outrage toward insurance CEOs who make millions of dollars denying health care, hiking premiums and devastating America’s families and businesses.

“The contrast is clear: We’re outside eating Ritz crackers while the insurance big-wigs are holed up in the Ritz-Carlton,” said SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope.

The SEANC group joined several thousand other protesters, including SEIU members from several other states and members of Health Care for Americans Now, who organized the protest.  Protesters met at Dupont Circle and then marched through closed streets to the Ritz-Carlton carrying signs that read, “AHIP is the problem, health care for all is the cure,” “Hey Congress, Listen to Us” and “Big Insurance: Stop Denying our Care – Public Option Now!”

The event was covered by local and national media who interviewed several SEANC members.  “If we just lay down like little lambs, they will run over us,” District 42 Chairwoman B.J. Jones told News 14 Carolina of the big insurance companies.  “But if we come out like lions, they will hear us, they will see us and they will know we are somebody to be reckoned with.”

January 25, 2010

Governor Issues Executive Order on Employee Associations

Last Friday, Gov. Bev Perdue issued Executive Order 45 on Employee Associations. For state employees, this is a way to directly communicate with our employer on ideas to improve government efficiency and accountability.

The order allows certain state employee associations, including SEANC, the opportunity to meet and confer annually with the governor and quarterly with the State Personnel Director regarding areas of mutual concern. Importantly it offers associations like SEANC who represent at least 20 percent of the employees in any given state executive branch agency an opportunity to meet at least four times per year to discuss workplace issues with representatives of those agencies. It means that when employees need an avenue to improve employee-management cooperation, we have one. It means that we can discuss the terms and conditions of our employment—something that could reduce the $563 million annual turnover cost in state government.

It means that when state employees have ideas on how to more efficiently and cost-effectively deliver quality public services, we have a regularly scheduled appointment. To me this order is like a check-up with your doctor. Many of us have good intentions to get a wellness exam, but don’t do it because we have to make an appointment. This order is a wellness appointment for state government.

This order is also good government. Setting a consistent process for workers to speak with their employer makes for a more accountable, transparent and efficient government. It also sends a clear message from the governor that the people that make North Carolina work are valued as partners, not just employees.

Each agency head is charged with certifying which state employee associations meet this 20 percent threshold, and with 55,000 members SEANC can expect to represent several agencies. I’ll update you as the certification details become available, and as always encourage your fellow employees to join SEANC.

Sincerely,

Dana Cope
SEANC Executive Director