TOP STORY
NEW visitor policies at the SEA office
Effective Monday, November 16, the SEA office has adopted new policies to prevent the spread of the coronavirus among staff and members. The SEA office is open by-appointment-only. Walk-ins will not be accepted at this time. Additionally, visitors must have their temperature checked and answer health screening questions. For those who visit the office, SEA has taken precautions to provide a low touch, high privacy experience inside the building.
SEA wants to remind members that wearing a mask or face covering can help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. As we move into the holiday season, please follow public health guidelines to keep yourself and our SEA community healthy.
NH Updates
Sununu: “no indication” of voting fraud in NH
At a press conference on November 12, Gov. Sununu affirmed President-Elect Joe Biden’s win and declared “no indication of widespread voter fraud” in the Granite State. The governor also commented, “Folks voted at an unbelievable rate, and we got the results that night… We counted, and it looks good. If there are individual cases, we’re always willing to look into those, and the attorney general’s office has been excellent about that.” He did not comment on claims from President Trump and top Republicans regarding national voter fraud.
Sununu’s comments echoed the Department of Homeland Security’s findings that the 2020 Election was uncompromised by fraud.
State urges COVID monitoring following election
NH officials are urging residents who waited in line to vote on Election Day to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19. The state announced possible exposure from four polling locations: Souhegan High School in Amherst, Pembroke Academy, Belmont High School, and Newfields Elementary School.
Despite these concerns, NH is reducing contact tracing efforts. On November 12, state officials stated that only 40-50% of people diagnosed with COVID-19 answered calls for contact tracing efforts. Officials also noted that as community transmissions grow, contact tracing becomes more difficult and less helpful in achieving containment.
Remembering Rogers Johnson
Prominent Seacoast civil rights advocate Rogers Johnson has passed at age 62.
Rogers Johnson engaged in both state and national politics. He served as chair of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion, the COVID-19 Equity Response Team, and the Commission of Law Enforcement Accountability, Community, and Transparency. In 2016, he ran former Ohio Governor John Kasich’s campaign for President in Strafford and Rockingham counties.
Johnson served as a state representative from 2001 to 2006, where he also the first Black person in NH history to serve as a majority whip. Following his service in the NH Legislature, President George W. Bush asked Johnson to serve as the director of intergovernmental affairs at the US Department of Education, where he worked until 2009.
More recently, Rogers Johnson was the President of the NAACP, Seacoast chapter. A wife and two children survive him.
National Updates
ACA Enrollment Deadline: Dec 15
The enrollment period for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act runs from Nov 1 – Dec 15. Those interested can find more information at www.healthcare.gov.
Make sure the information you are receiving is accurate. Get answers to common questions about healthcare coverage about the Affordable Care Act here.
SEA Updates
Help 1,000 children: Operation Santa Claus
For the last 59 years, Operation Santa Claus has been serving Granite State children in need. OSC serves 3,000 children every year with the help of SEA members, the National Guard, and community volunteers.
There are still 1,000 children that need sponsorship, and they need your help.
This year, your donations can make a more significant impact than ever. Please consider giving a generous gift this Holiday Season. Your support can make all the difference for NH children and families.
Convention 2020: Resolutions and Amendments
At the 2020 Convention, SEA delegates voted on three constitutional amendments and six resolutions. Five resolutions were brought forth by the Retirement Committee and address concerns related to Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs), prescription drug prices, and healthcare costs for retirees. The SEA will identify legislators to sponsor bills that favor COLAs to reduce retirees’ expenses to address these concerns.
Three constitutional amendments are related to the Conservative Member Committee, Operation Santa Claus, and chapter governance. In recognizing the success of our Conservative Member Committee and Operation Santa Claus, they will now both become standing committees. Previously, both were considered ad hoc committees. Language within the SEA Constitution has changed to clarify that a chapter may have both a secretary and a treasurer or designate one person to serve both roles.
SEA would like to thank everyone who attended the convention and all the members who have made our committees a success. We encourage all members to take an active role in your union. Click here for a full list of SEA committees.
SEA Social Activities Committee: Survey
The Social Activities Committee organizes events and programs to strengthen our SEA community. We want to hear what members are interested in and how we can best meet your needs.
The survey takes only a few minutes to complete and will help us serve you better!
NEW Book Club coming soon
Starting January 4, Social Activities will be creating an SEA Book Club, which will meet Mondays at 6 pm via Zoom. The Book Club will be selecting a book at our first meeting, so come with suggestions!
Interested members can contact David Holt at dholt@seiu1984.org.
All Chapters: complete an audit to receive your rebate
Please remember that all SEA chapters must meet and complete an audit to receive their rebates. Rebates correlate to chapter size. Please refer to the SEA Constitution for details.
Rockingham County Nursing Home reaches Tentative Agreement
The Rockingham County Nursing Home has reached a tentative agreement. The TA provides pay increases to all bargaining unit members and a one-time payment to employees who were not granted a previous raise due to their start date.
Every contract is a success and a testament to the power of collective bargaining. While we continue to fight for a fair state employee contract in the court system, we must remain attentive to every fight for workers’ rights in the Granite State. Please stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters at the Rockingham County Nursing Home and congratulate them on their Tentative Agreement.
Backpack Drive: Shop during Black Friday
In preparation for next year’s backpack drive, we ask members to purchase backpacks for NH students during Black Friday and Holiday shopping. You will likely find lower-priced items during holiday sales that can be donated to NH students in need next fall.
Virtual Auction
SEA’s Campaign for Public Good is holding a virtual auction in 2021. We ask members to donate items to the auction, especially those who have their own small business. If you have items or services you would like to contribute to the auction; please contact David Holt at dholt@seiu1984.org.
All proceeds will go to a local food charity.
Members in the News
Congratulations! 14 SEA Members win election
Please join us in congratulating 14 fellow SEA members who won local races in the 2020 Election.
Caroletta Alicia, Merrimack 8; Christy Bartlett, Merrimack 19; Mark Brave, Strafford County Sheriff; Art Ellison, Merrimack 27; Tim Fontneau, Strafford 7; Eric Gallager, Merrimack 15; Joan Hamblet, Rockingham 31; Mary Heath, Hillsborough 14; Diane Langley, Hillsborough 8; Ellen Read, Rockingham 17; Dianne Schuett, Merrimack 20; Donna Soucy, State Senate, District 18; Kris Schultz, Merrimack 18; Connie Van Houten, Hillsborough 45
Below are all 88 SEA endorsed candidates who won their respective races in the 2020 Election.
Congressional Candidates: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen; Rep. Chris Pappas; Rep. Annie Kuster
NH Senate: David Watters; Suzanne Prentiss; Jay Kahn; Cindy Rosenwald; Becky Whitley; Kevin Cavenaugh; Donna Soucy; Lou D’Allesandro; Rebecca Perkins-Kwoka; Jon Morgan; Tom Sherman
NH House: Tom Buco; Richard Ames; Doug Ley; Larry LaFlamme; Bill Hatch; Troy Merner; Dennis Ruprecht; Suzanne Smith; Sharon Nordgren; Joshua Adjutant; Marjorie Porter; Sue Mullen; Jeff Goley; Diane Langley; Patrick Long; Mary Heath; Heidi Hamer; Tim Smith; Willis Griffith; Maria Perez; Peter Petrigno; Peter Leishman; Jan Schmidt; David Cote; Manny Epitia; Dan Toomey; Mark King; Latha Mangipudi; Linda Harriott-Garthwright; Marty Jack; Mike O’Brien; Ben Baroody; Connie Van Houten; Karen Ebal; Tony Caplan; Rod Pimental; Caroletta Alicia; David Luneau; Mel Myler; Mary Jane Wallner; Steve Shurtleff; Jim MacKay; Eric Gallagher; Timothy Soucy; Safiya Wazir; Kris Schultz; Christy Bartlett; Dianne Schuett; James Allard; John Klose; Mary Beth Walz; Samantha Fox; Gary Woods; Art Ellison; Katherine Rogers; Rebecca McWilliams; Steve Pearson; David Welch; Ellen Read; Renny Cushing; Mike Edgar; Joan Hamblet; Mark Pearson; Tim Fontneau; Casey Conley; Ken Vincent; Brian Sullivan; Linda Tanner; John Cloutier
NH County offices: Brian Chirchiello; Tara Reardon
NH Executive Council: Cinde Warmington
NH Sheriff’s office: Mark Brave