NCSSA

Legislative Advocacy Toolbox

This page has been designed to give you information on how to advocate on behalf of yourself as an employee in the advocacy efforts against Senate Bill 433.

Why is SB 433 important to me?

• Currently, under the State Pesonnel Act, DSS workers can only be fired for legitimate reasons relating to job performance or personal conduct.  Should SB 433 pass, innocent DSS workers can be fired simply because the County Manager or County Commissioner does not like them. 
• Currently, under the State Personnel Act, qualifcations standards for hiring employees are applied consistently state-wide.  Agencies must hire candidates who meet minimum qualification standards.  Should SB 433 pass, each county could establish its own system for qualifying job applicants to work at DSS.  This could mean hiring under qualified applications.  Imagine a person without a high school diploma providing protective services to abused children.
• Currently, all County DSS positions are consistently classified by position series (social worker, eligibility workers, etc. under the State Personnel Act.  Should SB 433 pass, if your job function changed there wold be no requirement to classify the position to the appropriate pay grade.
• Currently, under the State Personnel Act, positions within DSS must be consistently classified on the local pay plan based upon level of responsibility in the employee's job description.  Should SB 433 pass, Commissioners could literally choose to elimiate promotions of DSS employees.
• Currently, under the State Personnel Act, DSS positions are consistently titled statewide based on level of responsibility in the employee's job description and program.  Should SB 433 pass, positions in one county could be called another title elsewhere.  A foster care worker could be a social worker in one county and a clerk in another.

Click HERE for a handout illustrating these points.  Please share it with your co-workers, whether they are NCSSA members or not!

Position Paper

Please print this for detailed information regarding our position on SB 433.
 

How Did My Senator/Representative Vote?

Please click HERE to access a spreadsheet that will let you know who your Senators/Representatives are and how they have voted on this issue in the past.  If those representing you have not voted against this bill PLEASE contact them as soon as possible and voice your concerns. 

Important Things to Remember

• If there is ever a time your personal advocacy is needed, it is now!
• Although letters and emails are helpful, personal phone calls or face-to-face meetings are better.
• Remember that your legislator works, lives right there in your community so you have access to them if you choose to exercise it.
• You may want to check in with your supervisor or director to see what the county's advocacy policy is.  If your county's policy is employees cannot advocate with your elected officials during work time (this policy should be in writing and accessable to you) then respect and adhere to that policy.
• Remember, you have a constitutional right to advocate to your elected officials during your own person time, including while you are on vacation leave - no one can take that away.
• You might be told when you talk to your Representative that they understand the safeguards you are adovcating for are already in the bill - in that event, politely ask them if they can have a member of their staff send you the bill with the part they are referring to highlighted (currently the bill as written does not include the safeguards NCSSA and the Consoritum are advocating for) - never argue with your legislator, just help them to better understand what they are voting on.  Once you see firsthand what they are referring to you can work with them to clarify what needs to be amended in the bill.
• Ask them to support the NCSSA-NCABCSS-NCACDSS Position Paper and if you can count on them to help.
• Always stay positive and remember to thank them for all they do for the citizens of your district.

How do I Contact my Senator/Representative?

Click HERE to determine who represents you and how to contact them.

Sample Advocacy Letter for SB 433

Click HERE for a sample advocacy letter you can adapt to contact your Senator/Representative.