N.C. employee groups, unions seeking successful year at polls

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/15823131.htm

N.C. employee groups, unions seeking successful year at polls
GARY D. ROBERTSON
Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina could never be mistaken for a labor stronghold.

A history of strike-related violence, textile worker loyalty to plant owners and unfriendly legislation has made the state one of the least unionized in the South, a region already averse to organized labor.

But a statewide minimum wage increase, the largest raises for state government employees in 15 years and measured success resulting from a Raleigh sanitation worker walkout last month has boosted confidence within the organized labor community.

"There were some significant victories for workers in 2006," said MaryBe McMillan with the state AFL-CIO, whose member unions include about 110,000 active or retired workers in North Carolina. "There's more interest now in unions and organized labor because workers have had enough."

Labor unions are now trying to build on that momentum by spending campaign money on legislative races. They hope worker discontent with eroding health and retirement benefits will move supportive voters to the polls come Election Day.

"Unions seem to be becoming more and more active in North Carolina," Jack Hawke, a former state Republican Party chairman, warned fellow conservatives at a recent Raleigh event. "And a lot of money is being thrown around this year."

The Service Employees International Union is the most active in North Carolina campaigns, thanks to a five-year partnership with the 55,000-member State Employees Association of North Carolina. The association lobbies for workers at the General Assembly but is not a union.

FULL story at link above.

[wildeyed]

1. A ground's eye view here,

but it feels like I have been seeing more union activity recently. Union organizers have been popping up at various meetings and events I attend more often than I remember in the past.

[KoKo]

2. It's a good sign. It's time that folks stood up. "Right to Work" meant

Right to Ship your job oversees or downsize you. Without workers uniting...even white collar workers..there will be little left in the way of any kind of job security.

Thanks for the post! :thumbsup: