In a bold move, the AFL-CIO and many other labor union are pulling their funds back from the Democratic National Convention. This is largely due to the fact that the DNC is being held in Charlotte, NC. North Carolina is a well known Right To Work State and has very low union percentage. The DNC will be hosting the convention at a non-union hotel and a non-union convention center.

These contributions to the DNC are no small potatoes. In 2008 many unions contributed to the Denver Convention. IBEW contributed 1 million, the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) contributed 1.5 million, and Unite Here gave $100,000. While some unions are still supporting the DNC, like the Communication Workers of America. CWA has agreed to reimburse members for attending, but are withholding their $60,000 contribution. At the Denver convention, labor contributed nearly nine million dollars. Other organizations are talking of boycotting the DNC completely. The AFL-CIO will be there but with limited support. One top AFL-CIO official said: “We are going to be spending our resources on membership education, not skyboxes.”

These are not the only reason that the AFL-CIO, IBEW, CWA, LiUNA and others are diverting their funds from the DNC. These labor organizations will instead host their own rally on behalf of workers in Philadelphia on Aug 11th.

The rally “Workers Stand For America” will be a chance for union and non-union workers to come together to show they are what makes America. On Saturday Aug 11th, “thousands of CWA and IBEW activists and allies will rally in front of Verizon at 9th and Race Streets in support of the 45,000 Verizon workers who continue to fight for a fair contract”. Activists will then march to Eakins Oval, a large park in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where they’ll join the crowd rallying for working families.

Matt Murray is the creator and an author on the NH Labor News. He is a union member and advocate for labor and progressive politics. He also works with other unions and members to help spread our message. Follow him on Twitter @NHLabor_News

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