Democrats are getting terrible news every day, less than a week before Election Day. House districts that went for Biden by 20 points are now competitive. White suburban women have moved away from Democrats by 26 points. Twenty-one percent of black Americans plan to support Republicans in November. This is no longer a red wave—it’s a red tsunami. We’re still in the midst of high inflation and an economic recession, so a major labor dispute in North Carolina has probably been forgotten.
Democratic Party field workers in North Carolina who are unionized may go on strike after their latest contract failed to address concerns about wages, health care and safety. The two sides remained miles apart Friday. North Carolina hasn’t been on the radar much, certainly not in the same way that Senate races in Arizona, Georgia or Pennsylvania have.
Republican Rep. Ted Budd is looking to replace Republican Sen. Richard Burr, who decided not to seek a fourth term. His Democratic opponent, Cheri Beasley, a former state Supreme Court chief justice, isn’t a terrible candidate either. Still, Democrats probably won’t win the seat, which explains the lack of coverage. It’s a gut punch for liberals who were certainly ecstatic about the Tar Heel’s cushy swing state status. But that was under Obama, and while the state should be considered pure swing territory because of its Democratic and Republican voter registration, which is pretty much evenly split, along with the location of both parties’ voting strongholds, Democrats have let the state slip away. Ohio and Iowa are also in the same boat.
With only a few articles to go, we regret to inform you that NCDP has entered into unlawful, regressive negotiations. In good faith, we have given management the opportunity to withdraw their regressive proposals. (1/3)
— North Carolina Democratic Party Employees Union (@NCDemsUnion) November 3, 2022
Otherwise, we will be forced to file an unfair labor practice (ULP) claim.
We stand powerful and call for a fair contract with fair wages. This is what is right for the Party, our supporters and for current and future NCDP employees. (2/3)
— North Carolina Democratic Party Employees Union (@NCDemsUnion) November 3, 2022
We are calling @NCDemParty leadership to negotiate in good faith so that we can reach an agreement and end this election cycle on a powerful note. (3/3)
— North Carolina Democratic Party Employees Union (@NCDemsUnion) November 3, 2022
Regardless of the Democrats’ diminishing hopes, voter turnout operations are vital, and field workers are at the forefront of that effort. If those workers go on strike, it could be a nightmare for North Carolina Democrats. On the other hand, since no one expects Beasley to win, they could be good soldiers, do their jobs, and then return to the contract dispute after Election Day. I doubt that will happen, but that’s not the only labor dispute Democrats are grappling with: Railroad workers have vowed not to strike before Election Day to prevent Joe Biden from being embarrassed.
The rank-and-file members of the two largest rail workers unions have rejected a up-to-date deal with the rail companies that could devastate the economy. Commuter travel could grind to a halt and about 30 percent of the nation’s freight traffic would sit idle, costing us $2 billion a day.
It won’t work for field workers, but at the national and state level we have the Democrats, the union party, who are cheating their people.
