North Dakota NDPEA Shows How Legislators Vote

North Dakota Public Employees Association

Dear Thomas Seymour,

President’s Corner

Last week I asked you to contact your legislators about the state employee pay package and you responded! I have heard legislators have been receiving emails, let’s keep the pressure on until the 5% and 5% and the equity pool included in Governor Hoeven’s budget is passed and signed into law. The state employee pay package is included in two bills SB 2311 and HB 1015. There have been attempts and there may be more in the coming days to amend the state employee compensation package. So, if you have not contacted your legislator, please do so today. Also, encourage your coworkers to contact their legislators because they will listen to their constituents from their district.



Now I will explain the equity dollars that are included in each agency budget. The total equity pool is $23 million and was included in Governor Hoeven’s budget. Each agency will have the discretion to spend the equity pool funding to address salary issues relating to the competitive employment market, salary issues in targeted occupations, and internal agency and inter-agency salary equity issues. The equity pool is a major component of the compensation package. Its passage will allow the state to move closer to market compensation paid by other employers in North Dakota. The equity pools will enable the state to reward its quality, long-term employees while also enhancing its ability to recruit and retain new hires.



Please contact your legislators and ask them to support the $23 million equity pool included in Governor Hoeven’s budget. If you don’t know who the Legislators are in your district, click on the link below and simply enter your address.



http://capwiz.com/ndaco/state/main/?state=ND#0





Gary Feist

NDPEA President







From the Desk of the Executive Director



SB 2311 experienced a pretty wild ride last week. At first, it seemed as though the House Appropriations Committee wanted it placed on the ‘back burner.’ However, on Thursday morning, it was placed on the docket for the consideration of the committee. Then, the House Majority Leader, Representative Al Carlson (R-Fargo) showed up to the party - and he brought amendments. Carlson proposed three amendments, and two of them passed. Thankfully, his proposed amendment that would potentially decrease the 5% and 5% to a 4% and 4% failed, thanks to thirteen level-headed legislators (I’ll list them later).



Two amendments were tacked onto SB 2311, though, and neither of them are good.



The first amendment eliminates “roll up” dollars from agencies by forcing them to return to OMB any money that was designated for a position that has gone unfilled. This is problematic because agencies use such money to pay out unused leave time when an employee leaves an agency. Agencies also use that money to pay overtime to employees who are helping to pick up the slack caused by having vacant positions. Agencies will be able to petition an “Emergency Commission” for permission to use such money, but that seems like an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy that will overly complicate a system was not in need of fixing.



The second amendment that the committee added to 2311 will limit the number of new positions that can be created over the next biennium to 44. That is significantly less than the 200+ new positions that the Governor proposed in his budget.



The following House Appropriation Committee Members voted against amending SB 2311 from a 5% and 5% to a potential 4% and 4%. You might take the time to send them an e-mail thanking them for their support.



Kathy Hawken, Fargo-Republican

Matthew M. Klein, Minot- Republican

Joe Kroeber, Jamestown-Democrat

Bob Martinson, Bismarck- Republican

Kenton Onstad, Parshall- Democrat

Clark Williams, Wahpeton- Democrat

Mark A. Dosch, Bismarck- Republican

Eliot Glassheim, Grand Forks- Democrat

Lee Kaldor, Mayville- Democrat

Shirley Meyer, Dickinson- Democrat

Mary Ekstrom, Fargo- Democrat

James Kerzman, Mott- Democrat

Ralph Metcalf, Valley City- Democrat



The following House Appropriation Committee Members voted in favor of lowering the 5% and 5% to a potential 4% and 4%. Be thankful that they were unsuccessful. If they represent a district you live in, you might remember this vote the next time they are up for re-election.



Ken Svedjan, Grand Forks- Republican

Keith Kempenich, Bowman- Republican

Bob Skarphol, Tioga- Republican

Frank Wald, Dickinson- Republican

Jeff Delzer, Underwood- Republican

Blair Thoreson, Fargo- Republican

Rick Berg, Fargo- Republican

Chet Pollert, Carrington- Republican

Larry Bellew, Minot- Republican

Gary Kreidt, New Salem- Republican

Jon Nelson, Rugby- Republican

Alon Wieland, West Fargo- Republican



NDPEA is hopeful that SB 2311 will be passed by the North Dakota House of Representatives. The 5% and 5% is hugely important for our state employees and NDPEA is optimistic that the negative amendments can be addressed in conference committee.



We celebrated a major victory for retirees last week. The House voted in favor of SB 2154 which will increase the health care credit for retired public employees from $4.50-$5.00. It had been roughly 15 years since that benefit had been increased, so to say that it was long overdue would be an understatement. Again, the House Democrats came up huge for public employees, every one of them voted for the bill. 15 Republicans joined them, and together, they successfully passed this integral piece of legislation.



As always, I hope that you read this update as a proud member of the North Dakota Public Employee Association. However, if you received this e-mail as a potential member, I hope that you will contact our office today at 1-800-472-2698 or if you’re in Bismarck call 223-1964 to find out how to sign up.



In service,

Stuart



Stuart Savelkoul

Executive Director, NDPEA










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