NC State A.F.L. – C.I.O.

The men and women who served our country in the military deserve more than lip service. They deserve the best.

Some 2.1 million union members, or 14 percent of all union members, are veterans of military service. The AFL-CIO is bringing together union leaders and members who are veterans to speak out to and hold government officials and candidates accountable to the needs of our returning heroes—not only for Labor 2008, but beyond. The newly formed Union Veterans Council will see to it.

The Western North Carolina Central Labor Council hosted the first Union Veterans Council event in our state on Monday, July 14, 2008. The event drew television coverage which further spread the word on the formation of a Veterans Council.

The Greater Sandhills CLC held its own Union Veterans Council meeting this past Tuesday, July 15, 2008. Check our photostream for pictures from each event.

Veterans will play a large role in the upcoming election and beyond, and the Veterans Council will be a conduit for their voices to be heard.

At both events, union veterans shared experiences, talked about their service to their country, and discussed the voting records of both candidates for President of the United States.

Union Veterans deserve the best from the country in which they served and continue to serve. They pledge to make their voices heard in the upcoming elections and from this day forward through the Union Veterans Council.

On July 16, labor leaders from around the state met at the state fed headquarters to discuss plans for our Labor 2008 program. The meeting laid out the groundwork and timeline for running a successful member-to-member political education program.

President James Andrews announced that the national AFL-CIO has assigned two staff to work in North Carolina through the election: Carlos Carrillo will be the director of our state Labor 2008 program and Cathy Howell will be the Zone Coordinator for eastern North Carolina.

During the meeting, Carlos and Cathy along with President Andrews and Secretary-Treasurer McMillan discussed key elements of the political program like leaflet distribution, phone banks, local union mailings, and voter registration.

Labor leaders and rank-and-file members are excited about this election and are more committed than ever to running a successful political program. Please help us win in November by working the Eight-Point Plan. With your local’s help, we can turn around America this year by electing worker-friendly candidates at the federal, state, and local levels.

The textile industry was once the lifeblood of small towns like Roanoke Rapids, where Crystal Lee Sutton grew up and raised three children. At the J.P. Stevens mill where Sutton worked, she earned just $2.65 an hour toiling under poor conditions.

Then, in 1973, Sutton met a coal miner turned organizer for the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU), Eli Zivkovich. Sutton knew she and her coworkers at the mill deserved better wages, a safe workplace, and respect on the job. When Zivkovich asked her to help organize the Stevens mill, Sutton dedicated herself to the task.

It was the beginning of her journey as a champion of workers’ rights and the union movement that led to victory in Roanoke Rapids, an eventual contract with J.P. Stevens after a 10-year boycott, and inspired the Hollywood blockbuster and Oscar winning film of 1979, Norma Rae.

Sutton, now 67 and living in Burlington, NC is in a new struggle for her life. Crystal has Meniginoma, a usually benign cancer that, unfortunately for her, is life threatening. Sutton disclosed her condition in a recent interview with the Burlington Times-News. “I call my cancer a journey and it is interesting to see where it goes,” she said. “It reminds you to live each day to the best you can. You are so much more appreciative of tiny things.”

After initially being denied coverage by her insurance company for life saving treatment, Sutton is now on drug and chemo therapies and has undergone two surgeries. Her husband of 30 years, Lewis Sutton, Jr is working two jobs to afford her medical care.

We encourage our readers and affiliated unions to join us by informing their membership about the struggle of the real ‘Norma Rae’ and pass motions to donate to Crystal’s medical fund. Supporting Crystal Lee Sutton is the least we can do for a woman who has done so much to advance the cause of worker’s rights and unionism right here in our own back yard.

“It is not necessary I be remembered as anything, but I would like to be remembered as a woman who deeply cared for the working poor and the poor people of the U.S. and the world.” –Crystal Lee Sutton

The NC State AFL-CIO will be making a contribution toward Crystal Lee Sutton’s medical care. Join us and send your donation to:

Crystal Lee Sutton Foundation
Truliant Federal Credit
P.O. Box 26000
Winston-Salem, NC 27114

Tomorrow is the 232nd anniversary of The Declaration of Independence (click the link to read the original document). Below is a fragment of George Washington’s personal copy, displayed online at the Library of Congress, and the one which he read to his army before engaging British forces in New York.

Many courageous Americans since have sacrificed their own life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness to ensure for posterity those inalienable rights declared by the founders.

Even today the people of the union movement at home and abroad struggle to declare our independence from the tyranny of greedy multinational corporations, corrupt governments, and trade agreements that sell out workers.

As we celebrate this 4th of July, we honor the many patriots who have come before us and who have fought, each in their own way, to preserve and expand our privilege as Americans.

Over 70 union members, including local union officers, shop stewards, and up-and-coming leaders from two dozen affiliates gathered on the campus of UNC-Wilmington from June 22-27 for the 2008 Carolina Labor School.

Students at this year’s school took courses on state labor law, political mobilization, dispute resolution, and workers’ compensation. National AFL-CIO staff were also on hand to inform students on our Turn Around America campaign.

One of the many benefits for members attending Labor School is seeing themselves as part of a larger union movement - not just at the state level but globally as well. For the second year in a row, we screened a documentary film to illustrate the point.

The film this year, Morristown: In the air and sun, challenged students to identify their response to low wages or unsafe working conditions - the union - as the same way to achieve justice for all in a global economy, inside our borders and beyond.

Many thanks to the instructors, Tracy Chang and Marc Cryer from UAB / CLEAR, state fed General Counsel Mike Okun, FLOC organizer Nick Wood, national AFL-CIO field staff Carlos Carillo, and attorney Valerie Johnson for leading our workshops.

Special thanks are reserved to you, our members, for your continued support of the educational programs of the NC State AFL-CIO. Without the commitment you and your membership have to North Carolina’s union movement, the Carolina Labor School would not be possible.

Pictured above, left to right, are the 2008 Carolina Labor School “Shining Star” Award winners: Angela Chambers, ATU 1493; Kathy Lynch, USW 959; Matt Ackerman, UAW 5285, and Bobby Graham, USW 9-738.

You can see more pictures from the 2008 Carolina Labor School by visiting our Flickr photostream.

NC State AFL-CIO endorsed candidate for state Commissioner of Labor, Mary Fant Donnan, won her runoff election decisively on June 24. Turnout in the runoff was extremely low, amounting to under 2% of registered voters statewide. Nevertheless, Donnan won 2 to 1 with about 22,000 votes more than her opponent.

Our endorsed candidate for the 5th state Senate district, Don Davis, won his primary runoff with 63% of votes cast to 37% for his opponent. Davis’ margin of victory was over 2,200 votes.

We also mailed material in support of Triangle Labor Council (TLC) endorsed candidate for the Durham County school board, Leigh Bordley. Bordley won her primary with 83% of the vote.

Nationally, union members comprise about 25% of all voters, double our percentage of the workforce as a whole. The union advantage for candidates endorsed by working families is clear. Thanks to our members for supporting these candidates in the June 24 runoff.

While Reynolds Tobacco makes billions of dollars, the farm workers who harvest their tobacco live in abject poverty, suffer from nicotine poisoning and exposure to deadly pesticides, face racism and harassment, and have few enforceable human rights protections.

FLOC, the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, is calling on Reynolds to meet and work together to improve living and working conditions for these workers. They need our support to win this campaign.

Join FLOC for an evening of music and conversation with farm worker leaders to support the campaign for union recognition and a contract at Reynolds Tobacco.

What: Benefit Mixer with FLOC President Baldemar Velazquez
When: Friday, July 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Eno River Unitarian Universalist Church, 4907 Garrett Rd, Durham, NC

For more information, contact Eric Jones at 336-662-5333 or Nick Wood at 919-616-0889 or email flocnc@floc.com.

Call for Religious Leaders to Stand with FLOC

In support of the tens of thousands of farm workers in the Southeast who plant, tend, and harvest tobacco for RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, the National Farm Worker Ministry is urging religious leaders around the country to call on the tobacco giant to work with farm worker representatives.

It is time now to add the voices of many religious leaders to this call for justice. Tobacco farm workers need signers onto an “Open Letter by Religious Leaders to Ms. Susan Ivey, Reynolds American Inc. and RAI Board of Directors” by Monday, July 7.

We encourage our members who regularly attend religious service to ask their leaders to sign-on to the letter. To read the letter click here. Background information is available online here.

For further information, contact Virginia Nesmith, Executive Director, National Farm Worker Ministry at 314-726-6470, vnesmith@nfwm.org.

Continuing its commitment to registering as many voters as possible before the November 4 election, the Raleigh chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute will hold a voter registration drive on Friday, July 18, 2008.

The drive will also include a fund-raiser for the Raleigh chapter - a fish sandwich and homemade cake sale. Sandwiches are just $3, canned drinks are $.50, and cake is $1.

What: Raleigh APRI Fund-raising and Voter Registration drive

When: Friday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Larry’s Market at the corner of Milburnie and Collenton roads, Raleigh, NC

If you are working the day of the 18th, try to stop by during your lunch break. You can also call Ann Young at 919-828-6453 on the day before to place an order.

The 51st Annual Convention of the NC State AFL-CIO will be held Thursday and Friday, September 11-12, 2008.  As is the tradition in all election years, our convention this year will be held in the capital city at the Hilton North Raleigh, 3415 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC.

Hotel reservations must be made by August 10, 2008 in order to qualify for our group rate.  Check out the convention flyer for more information.

Convention call letters were mailed early this month to Local Union presidents, full-time staff, state council presidents, Central Labor Council presidents, and our executive board. By now, member unions and councils should have also received a packet including delegate credentials. If your union or council has yet to receive either of these mailings, please contact our office ASAP.

We ask that member unions and councils plan ahead, make their delegate selections, hotel reservations, and send in completed credentials as soon as possible. The deadline for early registration is August 25th.

If you are a vendor of union goods or services to union members, families, or retirees and would be interested in having an information table at the convention, please contact our Operations Manager, Jeremy, at 919-933-6678.

Question:

What do these three public servants have in common?

Answer:

They are denied the same negotiation rights as employees
working in the private sector.

Virtual Lobby for H.O.P.E.

Take action and send a pre-written (but editable) letter to the House Appropriations Committee and to your NC House and Senate member. You will be asking them to support House Bill 1583 and the heroes who are asking for our respect.

Make your voice heard by firing off a letter to the House Appropriations Committee and to your NC House and Senate member in support of HB 1583.

June 11 is Public Employee Lobby Day

On the morning of June 11, 2008, supporters of public employees will gather at the General Assembly in Raleigh to lobby for HOPE. We will press for passage of House Bill 1583, which would restore contract rights for state and local government workers.

What: Lobby for HOPE and Collective Bargaining for Public Employees

When: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 9 am, press conference at 11 am

Where: AFL-CIO members will meet outside the Legislature, 16 W Jones St, Raleigh at 9 am

In December we alerted our members about a bill introduced in the Congress to extend to Flight Attendants the protections of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

On Tuesday the U.S. House of Representatives voted by a wide margin - 402 to 9 - to pass the Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act, H.R. 2744.

The bill now moves to the Senate where our own Sen. Elizabeth Dole has yet to sign on to this important pro-family legislation.

FMLA was intended to provide all flight attendants, like other full-time employees, with the ability to take time off from work to take care of family members facing serious illness. However, employers and the courts have narrowly defined the “full-time” requirement of FMLA to mean the traditional 40 hour work week. Since airlines choose not to give flight attendants credit for their time between trips, even those on the same day of work, it can be difficult if not impossible for them to meet the annual threshold of 1,250 hours.

“For years, AFA-CWA has had to negotiate flight attendants’ right to have access to this important coverage that millions of Americans are automatically guaranteed. This important bill finally brings fairness and equity to the thousands of unique individuals who provide an essential service to our nation,” said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA President in a press release.

Call NC Senator Elizabeth Dole 202-224-6342

A Senate version of the bill, S. 2059, introduced by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), has 26 bipartisan cosponsors. Sen. Dole is not one of them. You can help flight attendants gain FMLA protection by urging her to become a cosponsor of S. 2059.

Every North Carolinian is a constituent of Senator Elizabeth Dole, and she needs to hear from all of us that Senate Bill 2059 is a priority for working families.

Here’s a sample phone script:

My name is ___________ and I am calling as a voter in your state [and a flight attendant]. I am asking that the Senator co-sponsor S. 2059, The Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act.

Senate Bill 2059 is important pro-family legislation. This bill is a priority for all flight crew members, and it’s a priority for me. I would really appreciate the Senator’s support of S. 2059.

The North Carolina State AFL-CIO stands in strong support of the Flight Attendants of AFA-CWA Local 89 in their bid to gain the same protections under FMLA that other working families depend on in times of crisis. Please show your support for them by calling Sen. Dole, today!

The Center for Responsible Lending is presenting a Lunch & Learn Seminar in Winston-Salem on Thursday, May 29th, 11am-2pm. There is no cost to attend and free lunch will be provided.

RSVP information is on the flyer. Download the flyer for this event.

The topic of the seminar includes discussion on:

• Common myths about the sub prime foreclosure crisis
• What do the numbers say about foreclosures in NC and in this region?
• Who is most affected?
• Where can borrowers turn for help?
• What’s happening at the state & federal levels to deal with this crisis?
• How can you get involved?

The Lunch & Learn Seminar, entitled “Mortgage Madness in the 21st Century” is co-hosted by the NC Institute of Minority Economic Development, NAACP-NC and the Winston-Salem Urban League.

What: Lunch & Learn Seminar on Mortgage Crisis

When: Thursday, May 29, 2008 from 11 am to 2 pm

Where: Winston-Salem Urban League, 201 West 5th Street Winston-Salem, NC

Unionization significantly boosts the wages of workers across the income spectrum, with low-wage workers seeing the greatest benefit, according to a report released today by the Center for Economic and Policy Research. The report, The Union Advantage for Low-Wage Workers, shows union membership in North Carolina boosted the wages of low- to middle-income workers by between 11% and 14% from 2003 to 2007.

“In recent years, workers have seen their wages stagnate, making it almost impossible for families to get ahead,” said MaryBe McMillan of the North Carolina AFL-CIO in a press release. “Unionization increases workers’ bargaining power in the labor market and helps to restore the balance of power in the employer-employee relationship.”

Unionization raises the wages of the typical low-wage worker by 20.7% nationally. Unions also have a substantial impact on the wages of workers at the middle and top of the wage distribution.

“As the cost of essentials like housing, health care, and child care have risen, many North Carolina families find they don’t have enough income to make ends meet,” explained Elaine Mejia, director of the NC Budget & Tax Center. “Workers should understand that union membership can make a significant difference in how much they earn.”

“State lawmakers should remove the barriers to unionization that exist in North Carolina,” McMillan added. “The first step must be the repeal of the law that prohibits public-sector workers from engaging in collective bargaining. This law severely undermines unionization efforts by public and private workers, and therefore reduces the earning potential of workers throughout North Carolina.”

Sen. John McCain is clearly not a fan of workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain for better wages and benefits. He has spoken out against unions and consistently voted against collective bargaining rights for workers. Union members know the right to bargain is essential to preserving good jobs with good wages and benefits.

McCain Voted Against the Employee Free Choice Act but For a National Right-to-Work for Less Law. McCain voted against the Employee Free Choice Act, which would level the playing field for workers trying to form unions. He voted for a National Right-to-Work for Less law that would attempt to eliminate unions altogether. [H.R. 800, Vote #227, 6/26/07; S. 1788 Vote #188, 7/10/96]

McCain: Teachers’ Unions Serve Unions’ Interest, NOT Children’s Interest. McCain has repeatedly attacked teachers’ unions. “It’s time to break the grip of the education monopoly that serves the union bosses at the expense of our children,” he said. [The New York Times, 2/11/00]

McCain Voted to Allow Employers to Hire Permanent Replacements During a Strike. McCain voted against ending debate on a bill that would bar employers from hiring permanent replacements for striking workers. [S. 55,Vote #189, 7/13/94]

McCain Did NOT Co-Sponsor the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act. McCain did not co-sponsor S. 2123, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, legislation to grant fire fighters and police officers minimum collective bargaining rights. [S. 2123, 10/1/07; IAFF]

McCain Voted Against Collective Bargaining Rights for TSA Screeners. McCain voted against a measure to grant Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport screeners limited collective bargaining rights. The measure would not have allowed them to strike or negotiate for higher pay. [S. 4, Vote #64, 3/7/07]

Gov. Mike Easley has what he calls a “painless solution” to increase teacher salaries and fund mental healthcare: higher taxes on cigarettes and alcohol.

In his last budget proposal as governor, Easley would have lawmakers increase the tax on a pack of cigarettes by an additional 20 cents to 55 cents total. The increase of cigarette taxes would pay to raise the average salary for teachers in our state up to the national average of $50,000 a year.

Higher taxes on cigarettes are bad news for NC tobacco workers already facing layoffs and plant closures as domestic production continues to decline.

Easley’s budget also calls for raising the tax on beer 4 cents a can, on wine 3 cents a bottle, and on liquor 4 percent. The governor’s budget would use these increases to fund changes in mental-health care reform.

While we support higher teacher pay and improvements in the mental health care system, we strongly oppose these proposed tax increases and are lobbying against them. Since this is an election year, many legislators appear reluctant to raise taxes. An article in the News & Observer calls the tax increases unlikely. We are hopeful that General Assembly will not vote to increase taxes on cigarettes and beer.

So-called ’sin taxes’ are regressive - falling disproportionately on lower-income workers - and are an unreliable and an ultimately diminishing source of revenue. Finding real solutions to below average teacher pay and our broken mental-health care system requires political leadership and the collective will of all North Carolinians - not just smokers, drinkers, and those who work in the tobacco and alcohol industries.