The NC State AFL-CIO is the North Carolina affiliate of the AFL-CIO. ¹ It represents the interests of North Carolina unions and promotes left-of-center policies on a variety of topics, including critical race theory-aligned racial policy and LGBT interests. ^{2 3}

Background and Activities

The NC State AFL-CIO was founded in 1957, ⁴ two years after the 1955 merger of its national counterpart. ⁵ North Carolina has been a right to work state since before the NC State AFL-CIO was formed, meaning workers cannot be compelled to pay union fees as a condition of employment in the state. ⁶

The NC State AFL-CIO membership includes eight Central Labor Councils that work in a particular geographic area within the state. ⁷ The organization supports labor strikes in North Carolina, as well as progressive policy priorities such as a $15 minimum wage. ⁸ It frequently attacks North Carolina Republican officials while endorsing Democratic candidates in North Carolina, including judicial candidates. ^{9 10 11}

The organization’s 2020 Annual Report claimed credit for the re-election of Gov. Roy Cooper (D) and other statewide progressive officials and for flipping of two congressional seats from Republican to Democratic after court-ordered redistricting altered the districts’ boundaries. ¹²

The NC State AFL-CIO is led by MaryBe McMillan, a veteran North Carolina labor union operative. ¹³

Funding

In 2019, the NC State AFL-CIO received $848,396 in revenue, of which nearly 80 percent was from program service revenue. ¹⁴ It spent $31,903 on political campaign activity in 2019. ¹⁵

1. ^[1] “State Federations and Central Labor Councils.” AFL-CIO. Accessed November 26, 2021. https://aflcio.org/about-us/our-unions-and-allies/state-federations-and-central-labor-councils.
2. NC AFL-CIO Convention Brings 3 Days of Solidarity to Wilmington.” NC State AFL-CIO. October 15, 2021. https://aflcionc.org/nc-afl-cio-convention-brings-3-days-of-solidarity-to-wilmington/.
3. “New ‘Worker Justice Center.’” NC State AFL-CIO. September 4, 2015. https://aflcionc.org/new-worker-justice-center-opens-in-greensboro/.
4. NC State AFL-CIO, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990O), 2019.
5. “The Merger: AFL-CIO.” AFL-CIO: Origins and Divisions. Accessed November 27, 2021. https://wp.nyu.edu/mappingnyclaborhistory/the-merger/.
6.  “Right-To-Work Resources.” NCSL: National Conference of State Legislatures. National Conference of State Legislatures. Accessed November 27, 2021. https://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/right-to-work-laws-and-bills.aspx.
7. “Central Labor Councils (CLCs) of North Carolina.” NC State AFL-CIO. Accessed November 27, 2021. https://aflcionc.org/join-us/membership/central-labor-councils/.
8. Duncan, Charles. “Walkouts and Sick-Outs: Workers Are Showing Their Power in North Carolina.” Spectrum News 1. November 17, 2021. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/politics/2021/11/17/walkouts-and-sick-outs–workers-are-showing-their-power-in-north-carolina-.
9. “State House Republicans Abandon Unemployed North Carolinians.” NC State AFL-CIO. May 4, 2020. https://aflcionc.org/state-house-republicans-abandon-unemployed-north-carolinians/.
10. “NC State AFL-CIO Announces Endorsed 2020 Candidates.” NC State AFL-CIO. December 9, 2019. https://aflcionc.org/nc-state-afl-cio-announces-endorsed-2020-candidates/.
11. “NC AFL-CIO Endorses 2020 Judicial Candidates.” NC State AFL-CIO. October 22, 2020. https://aflcionc.org/nc-afl-cio-endorses-2020-judicial-candidates/.
12. “2020 Annual Report.” NC State AFL-CIO. Accessed November 27, 2021. https://aflcionc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2020-Annual-Report.pdf.
13. “President, Staff, & Board.” NC State AFL-CIO. Accessed November 27, 2021. https://aflcionc.org/join-us/board-officer-staff/.
14. NC State AFL-CIO, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990O), 2019.
15. NC State AFL-CIO, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990O), 2019.