N.C. protesters want collective bargaining restored

[Joanne98]

Source: MH


RALEIGH — A coalition of labor, civil rights and religious groups rallied in front of the General Assembly offices Monday to call for an end to North Carolina's ban on public employees' collective bargaining and to resist state budget cuts at the expense of public sector jobs and programs.

The rally drew about 100 participants, who cheered several speakers representing labor, churches and the NAACP. About two dozen people staged a counterprotest across the street in Bicentennial Plaza, shouting insults and chanting slogans throughout the rally.

Both sides cited the controversy in Wisconsin, where that state's governor has proposed reducing public employees' pay and benefits and limiting their collective-bargaining rights. Wisconsin has become a rallying cry for unions, but it is just one of many states scrutinizing pay, benefits and pension commitments as they face difficult decisions to handle budget deficits.

Some of the concessions that governors in those states would like to see are already status quo in North Carolina, which has banned collective bargaining for public employees since 1959.





Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/22/2078906/nc-protesters-want-collective.html

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[Omaha Steve]

2. K&R!

[OneAngryDemocrat]

3. Kicked

[GoCubsGo]

4. I wish them luck.

They might have a chance in North Carolina. Not going to happen for a long time, if ever, here in South Carolina. Have I told you lately how much I hate this hellhole?

[Daemonaquila]

5. Fantastic!

It's time not just for reaction to the right's insanity, but for pushback against years of bad law and policy. Go, guys - I hope this gets as messy as Wisconsin is right now.

[nolabear]

6. Rock on, NC! Got a lot of in-laws there.

Sadly, they're probably pulling for the other team. But we can hope.