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NC State AFL-CIO Holds 63rd Annual Convention @ Home

Jeremy Sprinkle
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For Immediate Release

NC State AFL-CIO Holds 63rd Annual Convention at Home this Year

Two-day, online-only event brought together over 200 labor union activists and political leaders to educate, agitate, and mobilize for the final push ahead of historic elections

Raleigh, NC (September 25, 2020) — The NC State AFL-CIO’s 63rd Annual Convention was held online this year via Zoom, Thursday and Friday, September 24th and 25th. The two-day convention brought together labor, community, and political leaders from across the state to discuss ways to fight for a better future through organizing, political power, and community building. 

Speakers in attendance included: 

  • Sara Steffens, Secretary-Treasurer of the Communication Workers Association (CWA)
  • Fred Redmond, International Vice President of the United Steelworkers (USW)
  • North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper
  • Cal Cunningham, candidate for US Senate 
  • Jessica Holmes, candidate Labor Commissioner 
  • Alan Jones (USW), a union member and candidate for NC House District 118 

“We can make a difference in this election and not just by swinging national races,” said NC State AFL-CIO President MaryBe McMillan. “By electing new, worker-friendly majorities in the state legislature, re-electing Governor Cooper, and electing Jessica Holmes as our next NC Labor Commissioner and our other endorsed candidates, working people will be in a position to build back better in 2021.”

One of the convention highlights each year is the presentation of the PR Latta Rank-and-File Award for outstanding service to the labor movement. The award is named for a longtime labor leader with the Communications Workers of America who passed away in 2014 at the age of 95. This year’s award honored the members of UAW Local 2404 for their perseverance and solidarity throughout their victorious strike for a fair contract with General Motors last year.

Contact: Jeremy Sprinkle, [email protected], 336-255-2711

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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 and forty-thousand union members, fighting for good jobs, safe workplaces, workers’ rights, consumer protections, and quality public services on behalf of ALL working people.