Local 391 Recording Secretary Rachel Eitzen and Vice President Rick Armstrong met with Speaker Tim Moore's policy advisor Jason Soper (center) on Wednesday to discuss issues important to the Union and its members.

Teamsters Local 391 Secretary Treasurer Vernon Gammon, Vice President Rick Armstrong, and Recording Secretary Rachel Eitzen - all of whom serve as business agents for Local 391 in addition to officer roles - spent the majority of the last week in and around the General Assembly meeting with key legislators on issues ranging from higher pay for public school workers to law enforcement protections and the abusive use of the employee-contractor system in North Carolina.  They also advocated for the struggling film industry desperately needing a heartier incentive program to reboot it.  

"It was important that our leadership team take an active role in lobbying legislators on issues important to this Union," said Teamsters Local 391 President Mike McGaha, who also works as an acting business agent in the film industry.  "The political process is not only the negotiating table for our public sector workers, but the laws enacted also have a direct influence on our organizing work and even contract negotiations in the private sector.  This has been evident in the film industry just in the last month."

Public sector workers and the film industry were the main focus of the meetings Wednesday and Thursday with NC House Speaker Tim Moore's policy advisor Jason Soper and Governor Pat McCrory's chief lobbyist Fred Steen.  At the meetings, Armstrong and Eitzen, both business agents for public sector workers, discussed pay inequities between public school workers and state employees and teachers, three groups that are treated as seperate and inequal.  

VP Armstrong also discussed the importance of supporting law enforcement, including the Capitol Police, who are members of Local 391.  

Both Armstrong and Eitzen were pleased with the meeting, including both offices' request for budget language, follow-up on law enforcement legislation, and the willingness to work together on issues in which the Republican leaders agree with Local 391.  

"We know that we will not agree on everything with Governor McCrory and Speaker Moore, but we didn't agree on everything when Democrats were in charge of the Governor's Mansion and the General Assembly," said Eitzen.  "This Union's only goal is to provide better pay and working conditions for our members so they can support their families."

Below is the budget language Teamsters Local 391 submitted in a follow-up correspondence to Governor McCrory and Speaker Moore's offices.