North Carolina’s Union Movement

“Ten thousand times has the labor movement stumbled and fallen and bruised itself, and risen again; been seized by the throat and choked into insensibility; enjoined by courts, assaulted by thugs, charged by the militia, shot down by regulars, traduced by the press, frowned upon by public opinion, deceived by politicians, threatened by priests, repudiated by renegades, preyed upon by grafters, infested by spies, deserted by cowards, betrayed by traitors, bled by leeches, and sold out by leaders, but, notwithstanding all this, and all these, it is today the most vital potential power this planet has ever known, and its historic mission of emancipating the workers of the world from the thralldom of the ages is as certain of ultimate realization as the setting of the sun.”

–Eugene V. Debs, American socialist, labor leader, 20th Century

More info & ammo for unionists at biglabor.com

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• For Ohio win, Clinton banks on the disaffected
• Economy Skids to Near Halt
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• Paulson Dismisses Mortgage Rescue Plans 
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• Strike ban for state workers gains
• Verizon-FairPoint Land-Line Sale: Workers union pledges to help company thrive
• Unions say they will work with FairPoint
• FairPoint foes take some credit
• FairPoint plans on March 31 deal close
• Fairpoint Gets Final Approval from NH Regulators
• A Bad Idea Triumphs: Verizon: $500,000,000 — Public: $0
• Strike at parts supplier closes GM plant
• Writers approve strike-ending deal
• The Changing Union Label
• Wellness: Labor’s new bargaining chip
• Teamsters Reach Tentative DHL National Agreement 

• The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: Defending the right to organize
• Fighting Fire With the Wrong Sector?
• Lenders Fighting Mortgage Rewrite
• Democrats go toe to toe in Texas
• Bankrupt Interstate Bakeries bonus plan sparks objections
• Indiana GE plant workers await options
• Risk-wary lenders sidestep Delphi
• ON THE RUN: McCain loan raises FEC questions
• Northwest-Delta merger deal is ready for airlines to sign
• Change to Win Endorses Obama

The state federation has developed a strategic plan that includes hands-on support for central labor councils, APRI and the Alliance for Retired Americans.

We have conducted two very successful trainings for Labor 2008 political coordinators. At the meetings in Charlotte and in Fayetteville, President Andrews and Secretary-Treasurer McMillan facilitated the discussion and got commitments from local leaders on a number of action points.

Special thanks to Southern Piedmont CLC president Will Cashion, Greater Sandhills CLC president Tony McKinnon and area labor leaders.

In addition to the regional political coordinator trainings, the North Carolina State AFL-CIO is sponsoring a one day training session on the national AFL-CIO economic education effort called “An Economy that Works for All.” This training is intended for political coordinators, legislative chairs and union staff who, after going through the training, will be able and willing to deliver the presentation to their local union and other unions in the area. This training session will take place at our state office on Thursday, Feb.28, 2008.

Also, to support Labor 2008 and other important programs, we are working to re-build central labor councils around the state. This work includes some financial assistance to staff some of the program work in each area.

Already we can report the Southeastern CLC in Wilmington is now re-building its membership base with the help of the North Carolina State AFL-CIO and has just elected new officers.

Yet more welfare for an undeserving corporation

Once the employer of 1,450 workers in NC, many of them union members of USW Local 850, Continental Tire (CTNA) in recent years has all but ceased production here, choosing to open shop in Brazil. In moving its North American headquarters to Lancaster, SC, the tire maker would complete the process of abandoning Charlotte, Mecklenberg county and our state.

The company has yet to fulfill its obligations to employees and retirees under their collective bargaining agreement, and many hundreds of those who have lost their livelihoods live in Lancaster county or elsewhere in SC. Unemployment in Lancaster is now at 10.9%, the highest in the state.

Sadly, the failure of CTNA to keep covenant with its workers apparently isn’t enough to dissuade state and local government in SC from extending possibly millions of dollars in corporate welfare to relocate 300 white collar jobs across the state line.

In an article in the Charlotte Observer, a company spokesman believes it can get a sweet deal from the tax payers, especially in desperate Lancaster county:

“South Carolina does have a very proactive business climate,” said Continental spokesman Rick Holcomb.

The article continues:

The company has been offered incentives from the county and the state to relocate. The state would not release details about the incentives it offered because it says it has a year to finalize them with the company.

The Lancaster County Council, though, will vote on an incentive package that would freeze Continental’s property fees at 6 percent in lieu of taxes and would offer a 95 percent property tax rebate the first year and a 65 percent rebate the second year — about $200,000, said Keith Tunnell, president of the Lancaster County Economic Development Corporation.

It is time to stop giving tax breaks and other welfare to corporations that break their promises to American employees, ship their jobs overseas, and extort the very state and local governments left holding the ball with false hope and empty promises.

Below is a list of Lancaster county government officials who no doubt will be deciding on those incentives and their contact information:

• Bryan Vaughn
  swvaughn@yahoo.com / home: 803-802-6651
• Fred Thomas, Vice-Chairman
  ham@comporium.net / business: 803-416-2999
• Wesley Grier, Secretary
  grier1949@yahoo.com / home: 803-285-7796
• Larry Honeycutt
  lhoney@comporium.net / home: 803-246-0021
• Rudy Carter, Chairman
  rudylc@comporium.net / business: 803-285-3929 / home: 803-286-4961
• Jack Estridge, District 6
  home: 803-475-2849
• Wayne Kersey, District 7
  fayekersey@yahoo.com / business: 803-285-2130 / home: 803-285-9711 / cell: 803-287-9453

On February 9, thousands of activists, including hundreds of union members, rallied for a progressive legislative agenda, including justice for the Smithfield workers and collective bargaining for public employees. The rally and march were part of the second annual Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HK on J) event organized by the NC NAACP and over 80 partner organizations including the NC AFL-CIO.

During the rally at Chavis Park in Raleigh, participants heard rousing speeches from Rev. Dr. William Barber, president of the NC NAACP and other progressive activists including three speakers from labor:

• NC AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer MaryBe McMillan speaking on a living wage,
• Alvin Vincent, Regional Director for UFCW speaking on justice for Smithfield workers, and
• Ashaki Binta of the HOPE Coalition speaking for collective bargaining rights for public employees.

After the rally, the crowd took to the streets and marched to Legislative Building to demand that our elected officials protect workers’ rights, provide affordable healthcare, educate all children, and address inequities in the criminal justice system.

Thanks to the many union members who came to HK on J including delegations from UFCW, USW, IBEW, UNITE HERE, IBT, and the Carpenters Union. Special thanks to Ricky McDowell and the UAW Civil Rights Council for bringing a busload of UAW members to the event. We will need the help of all union members during the upcoming legislative session to achieve collective bargaining and the other goals of the HK on J. Stay tuned on how you can help.

The Hear Our Public Employees Coalition, of which the State Fed is a charter member, is conducting a broad effort to gather signatures onto an open letter to members of the General Assembly, urging lawmakers to support repeal of the prohibition on public employee collective bargaining by supporting HB 1583.

The signature gathering effort is now online. Adding your name to the open letter can now be done with a couple clicks of the mouse. The sign-on form (https://app.formassembly.com/forms/view/8305) is linked from our web site.

To build support for passage of HB 1583, HOPE has set a goal of collecting 1,000 signatures onto an open letter to lawmakers. Both individuals and organizations can join this effort.

We learned this week of the death of a long time friend of labor and former co-worker at the NC State AFL-CIO. Doris Wilkinson served as office manager and bookkeeper for the State Fed for some 20 years. After retirement, Doris married Doug Davis.

Doris’ family will hold a grave-side service this Saturday, February 23 at 3:00pm in the Oak Grove Memorial Gardens located at 3712 Cheek Road, Durham, NC.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be sent in her name to the American Diabetes Association. For more information, contact Mr. Doug Davis at 919-477-4198.

As of this writing, the following local unions and central labor councils have made donations to the NC State AFL-CIO Victory Fund:

• AFGE 1738
• AFT of NC
• APWU 984
• ATU 128
• BCTGM 229
• Triangle Labor Council
• IAFF 682 of Winston-Salem
• IAMAW 1859
• IAMAW 2296
• IAMAW 2297
• IAMAW 757
• IAMAW NC Council
• IAMAW W369
• IBT 391
• ILA 1426

The State Federation exists in part to coordinate a unified political effort among our member unions and state councils. 2008 will see elections in North Carolina for the U.S. president, U.S. House and Senate plus N.C. governor, lieutenant governor, council of state, state legislature, and others. The Victory Fund was established so that members could make donations to offset the considerable additional expenses involved in mounting an effective Labor 2008 strategy.

Money donated to this fund will not be used to communicate with the general public or as contributions to candidates.

For more information about how your local union or council can join the Victory Fund drive, contact our office at 919-833-6678.

• Colombia trade deal dead this year, U.S. unions say
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• Major lenders give 30-day reprieve to those facing foreclosure
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• Bulk up labor laws so private sector can catch up on benefits 
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• TUC ACTS TO THWART US ‘UNION BUSTERS’
• Union busters not welcome in the UK says TUC
• Steelworkers to grill Levin on trade
• GM buyouts further hammer state’s eroding job base
• Striking screenwriters vote on back-to-work order

• Senate Democrats fail to expand stimulus bill
• How Hillary Clinton Won California
• CAMPAIGN OPERATIONS: Obama, Romney have head starts in state
• Texas voters welcoming canhce to hold sway in presidential nomination frays
• Union seeks change in new miner bill
• Welcome urged for immigrants
• One trade union’s road to diversity
• Changes aimed at foreign farm worker pay
• U.S. Free Trade Accords Face Rocky Road
• SAG, AFTRA to Divorce?
• Northwest and Delta Talk Merger
• UAW president says members ‘torn’ over Democratic choice
• Rhode Island gains importance to Democrats
• Letter to the Editor (EFCA)
• AFL-CIO: Bush budget neglects nation’s transportation needs
• Boston firefighters union says department unfairly tarnished by press
• Fire union airs gripes before the City Council
• Ironworkers’ high participation rate.
• Emphasizing the No Hassle in ‘No-Hassle Zones’

• McCain claims front-runner status; Dem race not settled
• They’re on a Roll To Get Out the Vote
• Clinton and McCain cruise to victory in new York
• Bush presents $3 trillion budget
• Will more jobless benefits aid economy?
• Child-care providers can form unions
• Unions sue regulators over new rules
• Clinton or Obama–On Health Care the Difference is Big (Op-Ed)
• Most jobs likely to survive a Delta-NWA deal
• Flight delays worst in 7 years
• Overhaul of guest-worker program set
• Labor Dept. sees new way to fight hiring of illegals / Pay for legal foreign farmworkers would change, could be less
• Immigration Raid Draws Protest From Labor Officials
• SAN FRANCISCO / Supes hear long-term plan for retiree care
• City Council votes unanimously to put charter measure on June ballot
• Unclear fate for holdout unions
• Iowa AFL-CIO elects new president
• Area labor council elects officers
• Council Advances Sick-Leave Bill in D.C.: Workers Would Get Paid for Absences; Businesses Balk