North Carolina’s Union Movement

It’s time to Turn Around America

This year, the North Carolina State AFL-CIO Convention, held at the North Raleigh Hilton, focused on labor’s effort to Turn Around America this election cycle. Many of the convention workshops and speakers emphasized the issues important to workers in this election, such as health care for all, the Employee Free Choice Act, fair trade, and the economy.

Visit our photostream to view pictures from the convention. Send us your photos.

We were pleased to have at the convention: Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, our endorsed candidate for Governor, Sen. Walter Dalton, endorsed candidate for Lt. Governor, and Sen. Kay Hagan, endorsed candidate for US Senate.

Convention delegates were impressed with the presentations by Joan Hill, United Steelworkers, Dana Cope, Executive Director of SEIU 2008 (SEANC), and Cathy Howell, Eddie Acosta and Nick Unger of the national AFL-CIO. These speakers clearly linked the economic concerns of workers with the need for policy changes in Washington, DC and Raleigh - changes that will only occur if the worker-friendly candidates are elected.

A major highlight of the 2008 convention was the COPE Banquet speaker, Brother Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America. Brother Roberts made the case to delegates why John McCain should not be elected president and be allowed to continue the bad policies of George Bush. He made clear the need to “Turn Around America” by electing Sen. Barack Obama, a strong supporter of the Employee Free Choice Act and other issues important to working families.

Another highlight of this year’s convention was the presentation of our 2008 P.R. Latta Award to BCTGM 229T and IAMAW 108. Members of both unions were on hand to accept the award on behalf of their membership which is slated to lose their jobs because their employer, Philip Morris Tobacco, announced the closing of the plant located in Concord, North Carolina. Brother P.R. Latta of CWA 3611 was on hand to make some remarks to the delegates before the presentation of the award.

During the convention, we recognized the affiliation of two worker centers with the state federation and area Central Labor Councils. The Beloved Community Center in Greensboro and the Western NC Workers Center in Morganton have long been allies of the labor movement, and we are proud to have them officially affiliated with us.

Delegates also raised $1,500 for the Moncure Plywood workers who have been on strike for a fair contract since July.

As part of convention business, delegates approved resolutions addressing the concerns of North Carolina working families such as education and training, protection of Social Security, support for an international container port terminal, justice for tobacco harvesters, support for our Labor 2008 program, and support for state and federal legislative issues, including collective bargaining rights for public workers and the Employee Free Choice Act.

Convention delegates also approved a small per capita dues increase of $.05 per member effective Jan. 1, 2009 and an additional $.05 effective Jan. 1, 2011.

It’s okay to wear candidate apparel to the polls!

Contrary to popular rumor: a voter who is wearing a political cap, T-shirt, or button and does not electioneer within the polling place will be allowed to vote in a normal matter.

People can wear buttons, T-shirts, hats, whatever, with the name or picture of a candidate but they can NOT engage in electioneering inside the polling place (or outside, within 50 feet of it). They need to proceed in an orderly manner to vote and leave without making any effort to bring attention to their campaign handout, clothes, etc. If they point to their shirt or tell others, “Hey, vote for [name on hat],” then they are electioneering and they will be asked to stop immediately, and if they persist, they will be asked to leave.

From the Don Wright, North Carolina State Board of Elections:

“This is a false rumor that is growing like wildfire. Of course it is false.

“The rumor started from statements made on the Steve Harvey Radio Show. I visited their website and looked at the e-mails and this rumor was there.

“Our position is and always has been……

“A voter may enter a voting place to vote wearing political items as long as they proceed to vote in an orderly and timely manner, and do not attempt to electioneer within the voting place. A voter wearing a T-shirt saying “Vote for X” who shouts “vote for X” or places his T-shirt in the sightline of voters asking support for “X” is obviously electioneering and will be asked to refrain from the conduct at once, and if they continue will be removed.

“A voter who is wearing a political cap, T-shirt, or button and does not electioneer within the polling place will be allowed to vote in a normal matter.”

Please spread the word about this false rumor

If you feel like you are mistreated when you vote because of what you are wearing, or for some other reason, you can contact the national Election Protection hotline (1-866-OUR-VOTE), Democracy North Carolina at 1-888-OUR-VOTE or call the State Board of Elections (1-866-522-4723).

Strike enters third month

The workers voted overwhelmingly to strike on July 20 after bosses gave a take-it-or-leave-it final contract offer that would mandate 60-hour work weeks, weaken the seniority clause in a way that could lend itself to favoritism, discrimination and racism, increase health insurance premiums by over 300 percent, and give fewer holidays off. Workers also raised concerns about unfair labor practices and safety violations.

Now is the time for us to show our solidarity with the union members at Moncure Plywood. Local Lodge W369 is asking for our help, including supporters to walk the picket line. The plant is located at 306 Corinth Rd, Moncure, NC in Chatham County - about a 30 minute drive south-west from Raleigh.

The striking Moncure workers also need our financial support. You can make a contribution by sending a check to:

IAMAW Local Lodge W369
P.O. Box 318
Moncure, NC 27559

For More Information Contact: Melvin Montford (901) 619-1967 or IAM W369 President Lewis Cameron (919) 770-5836

You are invited to participate in building a meaningful and enduring unity between African-American and Latino people. Faith, labor and the North Carolina community have joined together to call for a Major Black/Brown Conference on October 3-4 at Genesis Baptist Church, 2812 E. Bessemer Avenue, Greensboro, NC.

Regular registration for the conference is $30.00 and it includes three meals and attendance at all conference activities. The fee for students/youth and those who cannot afford to pay full registration is $5.00. There will also be on-site registration. For more information, please call the Beloved Community Center at (336) 230-0001 or visit the website at www.belovedcommunitycenter.org.