Labor spending on state races more than doubled since the 2004 elections.

According to campaign finance reports, six unions spent about $2.2 million on contributions and independent expenditures for campaigns for state office in 2004.

That's less than half the $4.7 million spent this year.

Here's a breakdown:

Service Employees International Union: $1.5 million

N.C. Association of Educators: $272,803

International Brotherhood of Teamsters: $198,150

National Education Association: $149,000

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers: $40,000

State Employees Association of N.C.: $35,059

N.C. chapter of the AFL-CIO: $8,000

UNITE HERE: $5,000

United Auto Workers: $600

Sen.-elect Kay Hagan received $199,000 from unions in 2008.

The Greensboro Democrat received donations from 29 political action committees affiliated with labor unions during her run for the Senate, according to federal campaign finance reports.

Top donors included the Teamsters, the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, United Food and Commercial Workers, the International Association of Firefighters and the Communications Workers of America, which each gave $10,000.

She also received significant donations from the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the United Transportation Union. 

Change to Win, a federation of unions including the Teamsters, also made robocalls on Hagan's behalf, and the SEIU and the UFCW donated to Majority Action, which ran ads attacking Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

What is labor looking for in North Carolina?

Unions and employee associations are pushing for three major pieces of legislation which would make it easier to unionize Tar Heel workers:

CARD CHECK: A U.S. House bill that would allow unions to form if employees checked a card — rather than by secret ballot — stalled in the Senate after a narrow vote last year. Sen.-elect Kay Hagan has said she is open to the bill.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: A state law from 1959 forbids any municipal or state agency to negotiate with a union. The State Employees Association of N.C., now an affiliate of SEIU, hopes to repeal the ban on collective bargaining. 

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, PART II: A U.S. House bill would require all cities and towns of more than 5,000 people to allow collective bargaining for firefighters, police officers and EMS workers. If passed, it would put increased pressure to overturn the state ban entirely.

These are not the only goals of unions in North Carolina, obviously. The National Education Association, for example, also has specific educational goals, while SEANC is concerned about government workers' pay and benefits.

But these are the major goals shared across union lines. 

How much did labor groups spend in 2008?

We're still working through the campaign finance reports, but here are the numbers Dome has collected so far on spending in state races by unions and employee associations:

National Education Association: $1,935,703

Service Employees International Union: $1,810,569

International Brotherhood of Teamsters: $334,117

N.C. Association of Educators: $267,230

State Employees Association of N.C.: $194,800

United Food and Commercial Workers Union: $116,500

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers: $41,500

Communications Workers of America: $18,750

UNITE HERE: $16,500

United Auto Workers: $9,000

N.C. Chapter of the AFL-CIO: $4,000

That adds up to $4.7 million for the 2008 cycle. However, it does not take into account money given by unions to groups such as the Democratic Governors Association, which also spent heavily here.

It also does not include spending in the U.S. Senate race.

The National Education Association spent $1.8 million in 2008 races.

The national teachers union, which is affiliated with the N.C. Association of Educators, gave $250,000 to the Alliance for North Carolina, $300,000 to the N.C. Democratic Party and $9,500 to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue's campaign.

It also spent $1.3 million on research, polling and advertising on behalf of Perdue, including some administrative costs.

Update: Contributions to the Democratic Party updated to include two last-minute filings. 

Second update: Independent expenditures updated as well. 

UNITE HERE spent $16,500 in 2008 races.

The retail workers union gave $8,000 apiece to Treasurer-elect Janet Cowell, $4,000 each to lieutenant governor primary candidate Hampton Dellinger and gubernatorial primary candidate Richard Moore and $500 to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue, all Democrats.

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated the donations. 

The AFL-CIO spent $4,000 in 2008.

The coalition of unions gave Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue a $4,000 donation in September. 

SEANC gave $194,800 in North Carolina races this year.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina gave $89,300 to 53 state House candidates, $79,000 to 28 Senate candidates an $16,000 to four statewide candidates. Seventy-six recipients were Democrats, and nine were Republicans.

The largest donations went to House challenger Jimmy Garner and Sen. Floyd McKissick, who each received $8,000; and House challenger Betty Mangum and Sens. Fletcher Hartsell, Steve Goss, Ellie Kinnaird, who received $5,000 apiece.

Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue, Lt. Gov.-elect Walter Dalton, agriculture commissioner candidate Ronnie Ansley and labor commissioner candidate Mary Fant Donnan, all Democrats, each received $4,000.

Fifty-five of the candidates were incumbents, 19 were challenging an incumbent and 11 were running for open seats. 

The state workers group also gave $4,000 to the state House Republican committee, $1,000 to the Senate Democratic committee and $500 to the House Democratic committee.

In addition, SEANC gave $5,000 to the Alliance for North Carolina. 

The UAW gave $9,000 in 2008 races.

The auto workers union gave $4,000 to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue and $1,000 each to Lt. Gov.-elect Walter Dalton, labor commissioner candidate Mary Fant Donnan and state Rep. Lorene Coates, according to campaign finance reports.

It also gave $500 each to Insurance Commissioner-elect Wayne Goodwin, Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson, Treasurer-elect Janet Cowell and Rep. Tricia Cotham.

Goodwin's donation came while he was participating in public financing program for campaigns and would have had to be returned, but there is no record of a refund.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union gave $116,500 in 2008.

The food workers union gave $104,000 to the N.C. Democratic Party, $8,000 to Treasurer-elect Janet Cowell, $4,000 to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue, and $500 to state Sen.-elect Josh Stein.