DNC Tells Charlotte Businesses to Become Union or Go Away

When the Democratic National Committee announced that their 2012 convention was to be held in the Queen City, Charlotte’s “uptown” crowd celebrated. Oh, what a grand time it will be for local businesses. Money will be made and the unemployed will have a job. It will be a boon for all in Mecklenburg County, which has an unemployment rate of 10.5%. But things aren’t what they seem.

North Carolina is a right to work state. That is in direct conflict with the Democrats biggest special interest group and contributor: unions. And local businesses are finding out the powerful hold they have on this political party. Many contracts are being awarded to out of state companies. Some have partnered with local businesses, which have heavy minority employees. But the overall tone is if you’re not union either become one or go away.

RedState.com tells the tale of a northern refugee who escaped the corrupting influence of unions. John, who worked in construction, moved to North Carolina because it was a right to work state. He found a job with Heritage Printing and Graphics. Here is short excerpt of what John experienced when he solicited business from the DNC:

According to John, statistically speaking based on their size and clientele, it was a fair bet that Heritage could land at least 25% of the available work which he estimated to be about $1 million.

After continually receiving no return phone calls from the people that would review bids and determine vendors, John started working harder to land the business. Donuts that he would send to their offices would be eaten, thank you’s would be said, but still no follow ups. No call backs. No business.

Finally, confused and bewildered, John reached out to someone he knew that might be able to help. He was so shocked and upset at what he was told by this person, that he felt he had to tell the story. I spoke with him today.

The person that John spoke to is an executive on the Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee who are central to the planning of the convention and how things will operate in Charlotte. There are only a handful of executive members of this committee, but John refrained from naming anyone specific. Ultimately, which one it is may not matter. What does matter is how the conversation went. According to John, he approached this person to see why he couldn’t get any traction with the committee.

They responded by asking him, “John, are you a union shop?” When John told him he was not, the Committee member told him, “We were just told that we cannot accept bids unless they are from companies that are unionized.”

“Cannot? Or will not?,” John asked. ”Cannot,” was the response he got.

Anyone who has escaped the unionized North can relate to John. Southerners call us Yankee transplants, when in fact we are refugees.

So, bask in the glow of your accomplishment “uptown” crowd. The Democrats may just throw a few crumbs your way.


Source: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/10/26/2721297/dnc-awards-contracts-worth-7-million.html

http://www.redstate.com/aglanon/2011/11/03/2012-dnc-discriminates-against-charlotte-businesses-demands-unionization/

http://www.istockanalyst.com/business/news/5508111/mecklenburg-county-unemployment-rate-falls-slightly-to-10-3