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.

Charlotte:

The 10th annual Charlotte Labor Day Parade will be held Monday, September 1, 2008 at 11 a.m. Our parade this year will feature local labor union floats, vehicles, and marchers. Political candidates, stepping groups, bands, car clubs, beauty queens, and community groups will also take part.

What: Charlotte Labor Day Parade
When: Labor Day, Mon. 9/1 at 11 a.m.
Where: Parade begins at the Hal Marshall Center, 700 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC
Contact: Ben Lee, parade chairman, 704-877-6916 or laborparade@aol.com

Canton:

The Western NC CLC and USW Local 507 will have a joint float in the Labor Day parade. Union members are requested to be at the Local 507 union hall, 35 Park St, Canton, NC, by 9:15 AM. From there we will travel as a group to the parade staging area.

The parade will last from 10:00 AM until around 11:30AM.

After the parade, we will return to the union hall, where an introduction of political candidates will be made and members may meet personally. Union members will be asked to go into the Hall and pick up union information on the upcoming elections.

The Canton parade will have a bluegrass band until 1:30 PM, and a vendor will be on hand for members to purchase barbeque sandwiches.

When: Canton Labor Day Parade
When: Labor Day, Mon. 9/1 at 9:15 a.m.
Where: Parade begins at the USW Local 507 union hall, 35 Park St, Canton, NC

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.