SEIU Local 1984

WHAT'S HAPPENING
Protect the Retirement System

EDA Committee hearing “After I graduated from UNH, I decided to work for the state of New Hampshire because of the retirement benefits. My father currently works two jobs five years after he ‘retired’ and I wanted to make sure that the same thing wouldn’t happen to me. I wanted a secure retirement. But after watching what’s gone on for the past six months, 'secure' is the last word I would use to describe our retirement benefits.” Kim Beers, SEA Chapter 50 Councilor, testified at a Senate ED&A Committee hearing.

On May 8th, the Senate passed its amended version of HB 1645 by a vote of 24-0.

HB 1645 will now move to a Committee of Conference. We believe the Senate worked hard to craft a reasonable bill and we encourage the House to agree and pass this important legislation.

Please contact your Representatives and tell them that enough is enough. More than 70,000 working families depend on the New Hampshire Retirement System for their financial security. It’s time to stop playing games with the retirement benefits those families have counted on.

Please ask your Representatives to support the Senate’s version of HB 1645 in the Committee of Conference.

Please also ask them to vote against SB 463 (the Anti-Employee Retirement Bill) when it comes up for a vote on the House floor on Wednesday, May 14.

Contact information for your Representatives can be found here. Or, you can send an email message to your Representatives through this website (please use your home computer and home email address only; you cannot email Legislators on work time).

More information about HB 1645

More on the Senate's May 8th vote

More on the House Committee's shenanigans with SB 463

Over 150 participants came this year
Summer Labor Studies Institute 2008
This year's Summer Labor Studies Institute, which will be held July 25-26 at the University of Maine-Farmington, will be innovative, fun, and unlike previous Summer Institutes. This year's entire event will be devoted to building union power, with a customized program developed by Wellstone Action and the UMass-Lowell Labor Extension Program.
More information - register online

Ideas for Saving State Money

So far, more than 70 people have used the State Employee Suggestion Box to propose ways that the State can save money. You can see the current list here.

Some ideas have already been forwarded to newly-appointed DHHS Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas and were well received. In addition, some Legislators have requested a copy of the ideas. If you have any ideas to add, please send them to the SEA staff who are compiling the list.

Gov. Lynch Announces Hiring Freeze and Agency Budget Reductions

On Friday, Feb. 22, Gov. Lynch announced two executive orders: one freezing Executive Branch hiring, equipment purchases, and out-of-state travel, and the other directing over $46 million in budget reductions. More

Click here for scholarship information
Union Scholarship Programs
College is expensive. Your union membership can help! Applications are now available for a number of union-based scholarship programs. More

2008 Legislative Session
The 2008 Legislative session has begun. There are over 200 bills that have a direct effect on state employees. Through Member Action Teams, SEA members are taking action on over 200 bills effecting fellow employees. Click here to get involved. Click here to see the bills that directly effect us.

State Employees:
Use the Health Assessment Tool
To use the Health Assessment Tool, visit the Anthem web site - you'll need to choose "New Hampshire" and register for MyAnthem . . . and then the tool will be available to you!

There is no deadline for completing the assessment, but the sooner you participate, the sooner you can access the $200 benefit.

For Members:
State Contract County, Municipal, and Private Sector Contracts

State Stewards
County, Municipal, and Private Sector Stewards

How Can a Union Help ?