On Saturday, February 10, over 3,000 people from all over North Carolina joined a People’s Assembly and March in support of a 14-point progressive agenda. That people’s platform included collective bargaining for public workers, living wage, education, health care, housing, environmental justice, immigrant rights, and ending discrimination, racism and the Iraq war. The “HKoJ” (Historic Thousands on Jones Street – the location of the State General Assembly) was sponsored by the State NAACP and over 60 other organizations, including UE Local 150, the NC Public Service Workers Union.
See video of the march and UE 150’s participation at www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV52K0Aaees
HKoJ reflects growing support for collective bargaining. This was the first-ever mass march demanding full union rights for North Carolina public employees. UE 150 members and friends collected hundreds of signatures on petitions for collective bargaining. The union distributed 1,000 educational flyers about the need for collective bargaining rights, relating this struggle in North Carolina to Martin Luther King’s final campaign in Memphis, where he died fighting for the rights of city sanitation workers.
NAACP President William Barber called HKoJ “a movement, not a moment,” emphasizing the commitment to continue the struggle. Local 150 President Angaza Laughinghouse and Ashaki Binta, coordinator of the International Workers Justice Campaign, both spoke to the rally on the urgent need for collective bargaining. The Black Workers for Justice (BWFJ) Fruit of Labor Cultural Ensemble, including Laughinghouse and UE 150 Municipal Council Chair Nathanette Mayo sang, “We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest.”
The UE 150 contingent included members, activists and supporters from Charlotte, Chapel Hill, Durham, Butner, Raleigh, Rocky Mount, Goldsboro and towns. The UE delegation marched with other labor and progressive groups including Smithfield Foods workers (organizing with United Food and Commercial Workers – UFCW), Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), immigrants rights groups, NC State University’s Student-Worker Alliance and UNC-Chapel Hill’s Student Action with Workers and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Many agreed with UE 150 Charlotte City Chapter Treasurer Larry Ratcliff’s comment, “Being among such a large group all united for justice gives us greater strength. We will go back and recruit more members and build our chapters.”
UE Director of Organization Bob Kingsley and UE Eastern Regional Director Andrew Dinkelaker were among the UE participants. Dinkelaker spent the week preceding the rally touring UE 150 sites, meeting with chapter leaders, members and other workers to help build for HKoJ and upcoming March 31 sub-regional training. Brother Dinkelaker also recorded video which will be used to help build Local 150.
The march ended with leaders signing a 12-foot-long petition supporting the 14 points, which was then presented to the General Assembly.