Three major labor leaders are based in North Carolina.

Though the state has historically not been considered friendly to labor, it has produced three leaders of major national unions in recent years:

John Wilson: A former Raleigh teacher, Wilson worked his way up the ranks of the N.C. Association of Educators, serving as president and executive director. Now executive director of the National Education Association, he has ties to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue.

Jack Cipriani: After moving to North Carolina in 1975, Cipriani was a shop steward at Miller Brewing and now serves as Eastern Region vice president of the Teamsters. Gov. Mike Easley appointed him to the state's Employment Security Commission.

Chris Chafe: The Carrboro resident began organizing textile mills, eventually heading UNITE HERE and advising John Edwards' presidential campaign. Earlier this year, he was appointed executive director of Change to Win, a coalition of labor unions.

The three may be as much a symptom as a cause of increased labor activity in North Carolina, since their experience in traditionally hostile territory dovetails nicely with an increased emphasis on offense by national unions.

The Change to Win Federation said Kay Hagan will help workers.

In a statement e-mailed to Dome, Teamster Local 391 president Jack Cipriani said that recent robocalls are in support of the Democratic Senate candidate: 

"Change to Win and its affiliates — like my union, the Teamsters — are working aggressively to elect Kay Hagan to the United States Senate this November. Hagan is committed to keeping good jobs in America by promoting trade policies that stop the shipping of jobs overseas. We are running a robust mail, phone and canvass program to contact members across the state to spread the message that Kay Hagan is the best candidate for working families in North Carolina, and across America." 

The N.C. Teamsters have endorsed Beverly Perdue.

The union, which represents 14,000 workers in North Carolina, announced its support for the Democratic gubernatorial candidate today.

"Bev Perdue has always been an effective advocate and a fighter for working families in North Carolina," said Teamsters President Jack Cipriani in a statement. 

She has also been endorsed by EMILY's List, the N.C. Association of Educators, the National Association of Social Workers, the United Transportation Union, the National Women's Political Caucus, the N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Communications Workers of America, the N.C. Troopers Association, the N.C. Sheriff Police Alliance, the N.C. Association of Nurse Anesthetists and the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg.