North Carolina’s Union Movement

• UK’s largest union to join United Steelworkers
• U.S. and U.K. unions plan united front
• Three women rise to the top of AFT union
• The Working Wounded
• S.E.C. Backs Health Care Balloting
• Tough times: Middle class losing grip on American dream
• British, US trade unions to merge
• UAW honors World War II vets after finding draftees names beautifully recorded in lost records
• Say-on-pay momentum stalls
• McCain Fundraiser Moved, Amid Protest Threats
• In McCain Campaign, a Lobbying Labyrinth
• Contract delay sours mood for American Airlines and mechanics
• Merkley’s campaign manager: How we won
• Pay, political measures on Wal-Mart table
• The White Working Class: Forgotten Voters No More
• Myths about the white male vote
• Business to McCain camp: What role?
• A Leader, His Critics And a Union Divided

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

• UAW says American Axle contract ratified by 78 percent
• Auto parts workers approve a contract
• Axle workers approve contract
• Workers for GM supplier vote to accept cuts, end strike
• State workers vote on unions
• Labor alleges petition fraud
• Right to shirk the union?
• Raise bar but keep it relevant
• Profit from film clips
• Unions support American dream
• Main Street Squeeze
• Neese: it’s time for labor law to enter the 21st century

• Unions=wage boost?
• McCain cares little for his fellow seniors
• John McCain calls Barack Obama ‘tool of organized labor’
• McCain presents his vision of 2013 in Columbus talk
• GM reaches deal with UAW ast strike-hit Kansas plant
• Delta flight attendants vote on joining union
• Locals saying yes to American Axle deal
• Unions, management square off at FirstEnergy’s annual shareholder meeting
• Union: we’ll fight Esmark buyout
• Labor strife seems to be in NFL’s future
• Seeking raise, firefighters will reopen contract
• LAPD union reimburses officers who are suspended without pay
• Teacher contract would end seniority
• Thousands of Silicon Valley janitors strike
• SEIU wins bragging rights in Tuesday’s election
• Alan A. Kistler (scroll down)

• Unions helps where it’s needed most
• AFL-CIO volunteers to knock on doors (scroll down)
• McCain seeks privatization/
• McCain visits, vows to set new standard
• McCain splits away from Bush
• McCain visits St. Albans store
• Kucinich motivates AFL-CIO operatives
• American Axle Mich. Plant seen approving contract
• Voting begins on Axle deal
• AFTRA says talks with studios ‘may not be quick’
• Pulte tries to reassure investors
• Indian workers stage ‘water only’ strike before White House
• Indian ‘guest workers’ begin hunger strike in Washington
• Immigrant laborers in limbo
• 5 Indians on hunger strike outside White House
• Clinton support puts union arm in debt
• Union says Frontier Airlines wants to protect executives
• Arbitration panel gives raise to city police officers
• Pro right to work for less groups hiding their funding?
• Obama to scale back union oversight
• Worker death camp in the desert

• NH union members knocking on doors in anti-McCain effort
• Republican legislator responds to union’s anti-McCain flyers
• Union’s election plans (scroll down)
• Unions boost wages most for lowest-paid workers
• Tentative agreement may end strike
• American Axle workers in Detroit get details of contract
• Workers say contract deal tough to swallow
• Axle of evil
• Lansing GM workers to vote, month long strike may end
• Ground workers union rejects American Airlines offer
• Friction felt in merger talk
• Union members at Maine’s BIW approve contract
• NFL owners may opt out of labor deal next week
• Union stages MGM casino protest
• Grey anatomy
• Unions help all workers
• Members question backdoor union deals
• School district to probe secret labor agreements
• Butchers’ union beef
• City to add 63 inspectors for construction sites
• A surfeit of sweetheart deals
• Winning the white working class
• Candidates tough on China - now
• “Poor” economy rating holding at 41%
• Immigrant workers sue Md. Employer
• Tending to a flock in hard hats
• Matsui introduces mortgage relief bill

• Union tide turning for Obama
• Steelworkers Union Comes Out for Obama
• McCain coming to Ohio; AFL-CIO ready to “greet” him (scroll down)
• McCain: Most troops will be out of Iraq in 2013
• Canadian Auto Workers OK Chrysler, GM pacts
• Union workers earn more, study finds
• Study: Contracts aid lower-wage workers
• Union vs. Nonunion Pay
• Pension funds urge Molson Coors to revise stock structure
• Pulte critics, unions rally at meeting
• Pulte Homes tells investors it will weather ‘worst housing market in decades’
• 100 days to DNC day, Denver says it will be ready
• Steelworkers file charges against Latrobe Specialty Steel Co.
• U.S. should be ashamed for exporting anti-labor tactics (Opinion)
• Parents turn out in force to support instructional assistants
• Bargaining bill veto shakes up Iowa’s political landscape
• Vallejo rejects unions’ contract proposal
• Detainees clear out, move to Iowa jails
• Coal exec proves stumbling block for ‘Spike’
• Feinstein, Lofgren push for immigrant workers
• Boucher: Vote in Favor of Your Job—Say No to Union Initiatives

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.

AFL-CIO endorsed candidate for Commissioner of Labor, Mary Fant Donnan, won the most votes in the May 6 primary but not the 40 percent required to become the Democratic candidate in November and will have to take part in a runoff.

The State Board of Elections has yet to determine who Donnan’s opponent will be in the runoff election scheduled for Tuesday, June 24. Stay tuned for more information.

The 2008 session of Carolina Labor School will be held on the campus of UNC-Wilmington on Sunday, June 22 - Friday, June 27.

Download the flyer and registration form.

Because of limited meeting space, we put a cap on the number of registrations we accept. Confirmations are made on a first-come, first-serve basis. The deadline to register is May 30, 2008.

For more information, contact Jeremy at (919) 833-6678.

• GM, UAW local agree on deal that could end strike
• Labor canvass to target McCain, support … who?
• Ohio AFL-CIO to Confront McCain on Trade, Health Care and Social Security
• Quick takes (scroll down)
• McCain Targets Independents with ‘Green’ Effort
• McCain cares little for his fellow seniors (Letter to the Editor)
• Colombia FTA opponents continue the attack
• Obama courts labor vote in Michigan, though some absent
• Edwards’ nod may help pull blue-collar voters to Obama
• Indian workers launch hunger strike in front of White House
• Indian workers protest outside White House
• Report claims Pulte contractors abusive
• Culver to veto union rights measure
• Delta pilots OK contract in case of merger
• Crecimiento en fatalidades de trabajadores latinos/ Jump in fatalities of Latino workers
• State counts 35 on-the-job deaths in ‘07
• Union helped non-union electricians
• Additional city workers join union
• Democrats’ Colorado Dilemmas
• Immigrant workers in New Orleans start leaving
• Union Leaders’ Clash Over Dem Endorsements A Sign Of Racial Polarization
• Following Unions’ Money Trail
• CWA’s Katz sues her union over its inquiry

• Safety workers union bill ready
• Winning the White Working Class
• After Lopsided Loss, Obama Woos Blue-Collar Voters
• The Obama Gamble (Opinion)
• Obama makes pitch to blue-collar workers in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
• Immigration raid at kosher plant largest in U.S. history
• N.Y. workers were in U.S. illegally, plant owners said
• US foreclosure filings surge 65 percent in April
• Study: Few opportunities for younger workers
• Signature Drive begins for 2 Union-backed Ballot Initiatives
• Labor coalition circulating ballot petitions
• UAW vows Foxwood protests will go on
• UAW Is Planning Expanded Protest At MGM Grand
• Exxon asks shareholders to reject measures
• American Axle says labor deal is close
• Ahead of the Bell: Delta, Northwest combination
• Uribe extradites paramilitary Colombian warlords to U.S.
• SSA will not send “no-match” letters to employers for TY 2007
• Postal food drive surpasses goals
• Union at Raytheon dips 5th year in row
• Lawsuit filed by suspended leaders of Maine union
• Labor Divided After Bruising Primary
• Why Are Dems Making Mexico Suffer? (Opinion)

• Labor’s influence key in November
• G-8 labor officials begin 3-day meeting in Japan
• G-8 ministers stress environment protection
• Obama, Clinton Vow to Push `Green-Collar’ Workforce May Fall Short on Jobs
• Senate Talks Collapse On a Housing Bill
• McCain Differs With Bush on Climate Change
• Proposal would change how unions detail finances
• Report: Massachusetts Worker Deaths Hit Four-Year High
• Monument bears names of New Hampshire’s fallen
• Pro-union legislation continues discussion
• Bill for paid sick days sparks debate
• Obama may speak in STL next week as black trade unionists meet
• Clinton poised for W.Va. win; Obama looks ahead
• Nurses union strikes deal with hospitals
• City, firefighters reach tentative contract deal
• Study finds union apprentices more successful
• For the workers, caution with a dose of optimism
• Investor reaches for reins on executive pay levels
• Mexico needs all the anti-drug help it can get (opinion)
• They fight our war (Opinion)
• N.Y. lawmakers must reject protective measure on retirees’ health benefits (opinion)

• Fed to re-launch ‘McCain Revealed’ campaign; unionists in Michigan St. Paul get head start
• a hollow place in our hearts’
• Guest, local workers suffer at employers’ will (op-ed)
• New way of business? Reynolds reports on corporate social-responsibility
• UAW strikes sting GM dealers
• Labor groups oppose Mexican aid package
• AFL-CIO opposes pact (scroll down)
• Helping Out: Mail carriers will collect food gifts today
• Postal Service food drive Saturday
• Retiree health benefits bill criticized

Together, the NC State AFL-CIO and Central Labor Councils endorsed a total of 34 candidates with primary opposition in the May 6 election. Based on unofficial primary results, 79% of our candidates won their primary election.

Nine candidates competed for statewide office, and of that group, 77% will advance to the general election November 4. The remaining 25 labor endorsed candidates competed for local or legislative office, and 80% won their primary.

In the race to be the Democratic nominee for Governor, in which we made no endorsement, Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue defeated Richard Moore 56% to 40%.

Our candidate for Lt. Governor, Hampton Dellinger, lost to Sen. Walter Dalton 34% to 46%.

One candidate, Mary Fant Donnan, will face a runoff election to be the Democratic candidate for Labor Commissioner. As of this writing, who her runoff opponent will be is too close to call.

James Wynn and Kristin Ruth, our candidates for the Court of Appeals, both advanced and will face Jewel Farlow and Sam Ervin IV, respectively, in November.

Congratulations to the Winners

These labor endorsed candidates won their primary (sorted by region, office):

This Saturday, the day before Mother’s Day, letter carriers will conduct the largest one-day food drive in the nation, having delivered over 70 million pounds of food to community food banks, pantries and shelters in each of the past four years.

What: 16th Annual NALC Food Drive

When: This Saturday, May 10, 2008

Where: mailboxes across the nation

How you can help: Place bags of nonperishable food items at your mailbox. Your letter carrier will pick them up and deliver them to local food banks.

On May 10th North Carolina Letter Carriers will carry with them more than just mail - they will carry the kindness and generosity of thousands of working men and women across our state. We hope you will join in making 2008 their most successful year ever.

Teamsters Local 391 has an aggressive attitude about organizing. That attitude is paying off as the Teamsters have recently won key organizing victories in both the public and private sectors.

“Organizing is tough,” said Jack Cipriani, Teamsters Local 391 President. “Here in North Carolina, the task is extra tough. But our recent success shows that when workers get an honest look at what the union can do for them, they overwhelmingly choose to join our ranks.

In the public sector, the Teamsters organized the State Capitol Police. Despite an archaic state law prohibiting public employees from enjoying the right to collective bargaining, nearly 90% of the officers have signed up to join.

In the private sector, the Teamsters are winning a long-running organizing battle with the company that was formerly Overnite Transportation. Once UPS bought Overnite, the union was quick to secure a card-check agreement. In a week and a half, more than 200 UPS Freight workers at five locations throughout the state signed up to join Local 391.

Said NC State AFL-CIO President James Andrews, “In each of these organizing victories the common thread is that when given a chance to freely choose union representation without coercion from their employer – workers will choose the union.”