Is North Carolina’s ban on collective bargaining for public sector employees a violation of NAFTA? Jesse Russell reports:

Forty labor organizations spanning from Canada to the United States to Mexico filed charges on Wednesday that the United States and the state of North Carolina are violating the North American Free Trade Agreement by not allowing 650,000 public employees in that state the right to collectively bargain. The organizations have brought their case under a supplement to NAFTA called the North Agreement for Labor Cooperation which lists the freedom of association and the right to collectively bargain as principles. A North Carolina statute prohibits union from negotiating on behalf of public sector employees. The workers are represented by the North Carolina Public Service Workers Union. The complaint is being filed through Canada’s National Administrative Office asking for an investigation to violations of labor rights. In 2006 a similar charge was filed through Mexico’s NAO and an investigation is underway.