2023 NCDP Labor Caucus Convention
On Saturday, June 17th, the North Carolina Democratic Party Labor Caucus held its annual convention in Pittsboro at the Chatham County Agriculture and Cultural Center.
Drew Edwards, a Communications Workers of America (CWA) member from Harnett County, was elected as the new NCDP Labor Caucus President. 
Outgoing President Herb Harton, who served two terms, will be retained on the NCDP Labor Caucus Executive Committee. Founder and former state party chair, Randy Voller, was retained for 2023 through 2025 as the Vice President of the NCDP Labor Caucus. Former four term Chatham County chair, Jan Nichols, was retained as NCDP Labor Caucus Secretary and longtime SEC member, Virginia Penley, was re-elected for a new term as the Treasurer of the NCDP Labor Caucus.
Convention members described the event as exciting and inspirational.
Current NCDP Chair Clayton Anderson stopped in and gave an inspiring address to the group. NCDP Third Vice Chair, Elijah King, also electrified the audience with a strong affirmative message that indicates that the future is bright with new young leadership at the Goodwin House.
The day began with a welcome to Chatham County by Pittsboro Mayor Cindy Perry. She was joined on stage by Chatham County’s youngest Commissioners Katie Kenlan from District 4 and Franklin Gomez-Flores from District 5 located in Western Chatham.
Vice President Randy Voller led a panel, including NC Senators Lisa Grafstein and Natalie Murdock, NC Representative John Autry and Kevin Lambert who is the new Political Director for the NC AFL-CIO in a discussion about HB 504 and SB 543 which deal with the removal of barriers to labor organizing.
Midway through the discussion, Voller invited Charlotte Mayor Pro-Tem, Braxton Winston, who is running to become the NC Commissioner of Labor onstage to join the group to discuss the issues that affect working people across North Carolina . It was a very enlightening discussion, and the conventioneers were sorry when Voller finally had to call time on the session and move forward on the agenda.
Other speakers during the convention were Bill Dworkin, an NCDP Labor Caucus Executive Committee member as well as the State President of the North Carolina Alliance of Retired Americans which is a 60,000 member strong North Carolina Chapter of the National Alliance of Retired Americans and DNC member, Shelia Huggins, who is an attorney and true blue Democrat from Durham.
To close the day’s festivities, the group heard from CWA ‘s legislative man in Raleigh: Grant Welch. Welch updated the convention on various bills in Raleigh including efforts to improve broadband which is a key issue for tar heels in all 100 counties across the state and a topic of great interest to members of the Communication Workers of America (CWA).
Many commented that the Caucus is fortunate to have CWA members Grant Welch on its executive committee and Drew
Edwards as its newly elected President. Their work for CWA meeting in person with legislative members in Raleigh is a real plus for the NCDP Labor Caucus as it allows members to gain an insight into the NC General Assembly and progress being made to better the lives of the working men and women of North Carolina.
After the convention was adjourned, conventioneers retired to the Carolina Brewery in Pittsboro to support local business and enjoy a great get-together with delicious food and frosty beverages.
The NCDP Labor Caucus is committed to growing and making sure that the citizens of North Carolina understand the important issues that affect working people in every community across the state.
