SEA educates members on pay raises, benefitsby Michael BakerPublic Relations Legislators and government officials often seem to control the fate of state employees, but the South Carolina State Employees Association (SCSEA) allows its members to learn about and address issues that affect them every day. Bud Cooper, director of video services at MUSC and immediate past president of the SCSEA’s local chapter, said the association allows state employees to shed their passive roles on important issues. “There’s no other group that broadly addresses the South Carolina Legislature on employee issues,” he said. The association formed in 1943, when a group of state employees collaborated to push for a state retirement system. The activism continues today, as much of the association’s work involves lobbying state legislators on topics such as benefits for employees and retirees, working condi-tions, employee compen-sation, and term of service. Despite its extensive interaction with the state government, the associa-tion remains non-partisan and grassroots. “A lot of people think it’s a union, but it’s not,” Cooper said. “And it’s not a political organization, either, although we’re politically active. One of our main efforts is to lobby state legislators for improved pay and benefits for state employees.” Occasionally, the benefits of lobbying are blatantly apparent, as when the association successfully pushed for retirement eligibility after 28 years of service, rather than 30. Cooper also cited a recent example of the association’s capabilities, when employee insurance funds fell into question. “This year, there was a shortfall of $50 million in the state employee insurance fund. Initially, the state government planned to compensate by raising premiums and decreasing services,” he explained. “But due to lobbying efforts, they found $15 million to reduce the deficit and ease the burden on employees.” Cooper placed emphasis on association members’ various opportunities to meet with state officials, an opportunity that many state employees don’t usually have. Association leaders meet with the officials with some frequency, but the SCSEA also holds a yearly breakfast during which members can meet the officials face-to-face. “It’s a good chance for so-called rank-and-file employees to have real-world, one-on-one conversations with legislators in key positions,” Cooper said. Sometimes, the meetings serve as educational sessions. Recently, certain legislators wanted to eliminate the state’s Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive (TERI) program, which reduces the gap in employee experience at the state level. The program provides retirement-eligible employees with an option to work up to five more years at their positions; meanwhile, the retirement money they would’ve earned builds up in a non-interest-bearing account, which the employees receive when they leave the job for good. “Many state agencies in South Carolina have a big gap in employment experience—a lot of short-term and long-term employees, but no one in the middle,” Cooper said. “TERI keeps long-term, experienced employees around while the younger ones gain experience, decreasing the gap,” Cooper said. The program’s benefit extends in three directions. The state institution receives the benefit of experienced employees working longer; younger employees gain more experience under the guidance of knowledgeable mentors; and veteran employees extend their terms of service without sacrificing retirement benefits. “I believe the SCSEA is 100 percent responsible for TERI’s continued existence,” Cooper asserted. “Now, legislators understand the way the retention program really works and how it’s funded.” The association also addresses the issue of pay compression. According to Cooper, many veteran state employees earn salaries at the bottom ends of their pay scales, on par with the salaries of new or newly promoted workers. Furthermore, with staffing cuts, advancement opportunities have become far less frequent. “Progression within the pay scale is very arbitrary,” he said. “You know what’s really telling? The public sector’s pay level is such that about one out of every four state employees with a family of four can qualify for food stamps.” The association would like the legislature to institute a stepwise advancement plan for state employees, with a mandatory pay raise every two years for good employees. “We want legislators to understand that they need to deal with pay increases and other issues affecting state employees,” he said, “and believe me, without someone putting pressure on them, that wouldn’t happen.” The association also is in the midst of an educational effort to teach state agency leaders about the SCSEA. Cooper said a similar effort proved successful nearly 10 years ago, but turnover in key agency positions necessitated another round. All state employees who are covered by the SC Retirement System are eligible to join the association. Of the 25,000 active association members across the state and 3,000 in the Tri-county area, 250 work at MUSC. The total is the highest of any state agency in Charleston County but represents a low percentage of MUSC’s employee base. “Sometimes, it’s difficult to recruit new members because the benefits the association gains apply to all state employees whether they are members or not,” Cooper said. He hopes that with time and education, more people will understand the value of the association and the knowledge and inclusion it provides. “Generally, state employees hear about an issue that affects them after it’s a done deal,” he said. “But with the SCSEA, we can have some input into the way we’re treated. It’s certainly more effective to approach these issues as a group than as individuals.” For information, visit http://www.scsea.com. S.C. SEA Creed: We believe that public service is important
to our community, state and nation, that it demands integrity, impartiality
and a sense of justice, requiring at all times that the public interest
be placed above any personal concern. As state employees, we believe ours
is an honorable profession dedicated to bettering the lives of those we
serve.
Friday, Oct. 15, 2004
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