Braxton Winston Elected President of NC State AFL-CIO at Labor Federation’s 68th Annual Convention
For Immediate Release
September 13, 2025
Braxton Winston Elected President of NC State AFL-CIO at Labor Federation’s 68th Annual Convention
A record 350+ labor leaders gathered in Wilmington this week to discuss issues facing workers in North Carolina.
“There is an urgency, a moral imperative, to stand up, stand together & fight like never before. This fight is about justice, freedom & fairness for all of us. … A stronger labor movement is the one force that can transform this country for the better.”
Wilmington, NC – Hundreds of North Carolina union members, labor leaders, community organizers, and elected officials came together at the 68th Annual Convention of the North Carolina State AFL-CIO this week in Wilmington to celebrate the retirement of President MaryBe McMillan, elect new leadership, and discuss efforts to improve conditions for working people throughout the state.
Convention delegates elected Braxton Winston II, member of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 322, as the next leader of the largest federation of labor unions in the state. President Winston was born in Camp Lejeune, NC, and attended Davidson College before moving to Charlotte and working as a union stagehand and grip. He served three terms on the Charlotte City Council, including one term as Mayor Pro Tem. In 2024, he was the Democratic Nominee for North Carolina's Commissioner of Labor, receiving 47.25% of the vote. President Winston is committed to building the strongest, most inclusive labor movement in the South.
“For too long working people in North Carolina and across the South have been told to work harder and accept less,” said President Winston. “But we are here to declare something different – that every worker deserves dignity, security, and power. Every worker deserves a union! … We are no longer waiting for change. We are the change. We are the revival!”
With unprecedented attacks on labor from the national level, state federations are stepping up to defend workers and their right to organize, and workers across North Carolina are saying “Count Me In.” This year’s convention theme, “building a leader-full movement,” reflected the election of new leadership and the cultivation of new leaders who are ready to meet the moment in North Carolina.
Speakers in attendance throughout the convention included:
- North Carolina State AFL-CIO President Braxton Winston
- North Carolina State AFL-CIO President Emeritus MaryBe McMillan
- National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler
- North Carolina Governor Josh Stein
- NC Supreme Court Associate Justice Allison Riggs
- UNITE HERE International President Gwen Mills
- SEIU International President April Verrett
Wednesday morning, New Hanover County Representative Deb Butler (NC-18) welcomed convention attendees to Wilmington with a reminder that “Business success and worker prosperity are not mutually exclusive. They can rise together. … Your collective voices, your strength, and your courage are so powerful and so important.”
Retiring President MaryBe McMillan followed, speaking about her over 20 years with the North Carolina AFL-CIO and declaring that, “There is an urgency, a moral imperative, to stand up, stand together and fight like never before. This fight is about justice, freedom, and fairness for all of us. … A stronger labor movement is the one force that can transform this country for the better.”
Gwen Mills, President of UNITE HERE, then laid out the importance of a bold and proactive labor movement, saying “Unions were founded as empowering disruptions, not supplicants asking for permission. … It’s time for the labor movement to reclaim the simple truth: workers are the economy!”
Governor Josh Stein addressed the convention Wednesday afternoon by saying “I believe if you work hard, where you come from should never limit how far you can go. With your help I aim to build a safer and stronger North Carolina for every person. … I want to make sure we're the best state not only for business but also for our working families.”
After his speech, Governor Stein awarded President McMillan with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the most prestigious award conferred by the Governor of North Carolina, in recognition of her decades of leadership and accomplishments for working people.
On Thursday, SEIU International President April Verrett kicked off the second day of programming with an impassioned call to action, telling the crowd “They are consolidating power in the hands of the wealthy and the well-connected. But if you know your history and who you are, you know something else too. We were not born to back down. We were born to fight forward! When systems break down, working people must break through.”
One highlight of the convention each year is the presentation of the “PR Latta Rank-and-File Award” for outstanding service to the labor movement. The award is named after a longtime labor leader with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) who passed away in 2014 at the age of 95.
This year’s award went to the Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW) for their inventive organizing in the food service industry, using “concerted political activity” to create real change, including striking against giants such as Bojangles and Waffle House, forcing these companies to address sexual harassment, stop charging workers for uneaten meals, and raise their tipped minimum wages.
On Friday morning, attendees heard from Liz Shuler, President of the national AFL-CIO. “When we join together, when we stand together, we are so much more powerful than we are as individuals or even as individual unions,” said Shuler. “This is the moment to tell our story — talk about what our movement stands for — the values that unite us as working people. ... The single most important thing we can do in this moment is keep building solidarity. With our members, with other workers, as we organize, and with each other.”
Friday’s final speaker was NC Supreme Court Associate Justice Allison Riggs, who delivered remarks before swearing in the newly elected President and Executive Board. “We are the people we need,” said Justice Riggs. “We are the ones coming to save us. And I am more motivated than ever to fight for the people of our state. It's my honor to stand with you as a partner in this work.”
Immediately following the adjournment of the convention, attendees joined National Nurses United (NNU) to rally in front of Senator Budd’s office and call on him to protect the right of VA nurses and federal employees to unionize and the right of our veterans to receive the fully funded, high-quality healthcare they deserve.
Contact: Jeremy Sprinkle, [email protected], 336-255-2711 or Sydney Roberts, [email protected], 202-417-4095.
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The North Carolina State AFL-CIO is the largest association of local unions and union councils in North Carolina, representing over one-hundred thousand union members, fighting for good jobs, safe workplaces, workers’ rights, consumer protections, and quality public services on behalf of ALL working people.