Search News
For the Media
For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.
N.C. Rep Follows Her ‘Bleeding Heart’
Beverly Earle picked up her local newspaper recently and was, momentarily, appalled to see that a business group had given her a low rating among politicians.
But Earle, the majority whip in the North Carolina’s Democrat-led House of Representatives, quickly realized it wasn’t such a bad thing to be unpopular with the business community. “It’s clear that I don’t support business as much as I support human services and working families,” she said, laughing a little as she called herself a “bleeding heart for everybody.”
Her sensitivities come from years as a Bell South employee and a member of CWA Local 3603 in Charlotte, N.C. She retired last year after 30 years of service to the phone company, including a few years as a manager.
“Some of my colleagues in the other party don’t think very much of organized labor,” Earle said. “I’ve always been supportive. I’ve been able to see firsthand just how important it is to have some representation. Even in management, there are a lot of folks who wish they had an organized body to represent them with the company.”
Earle got involved in politics in 1985 when a neighbor running for the county commission asked her to be his fund raiser. “I had never done anything politically before, other than vote,” she said.
Her neighbor lost by a mere 29 votes. But Earle enjoyed the campaign so much she continued as a Democratic volunteer, often serving as a campaign manager. She’d never even thought about running for office until the man who held the House District 60 seat became ill in 1993.
Her friends encouraged her and, before she knew it, she had the incumbent’s support and the full weight of the Democratic Party behind her. Earle was surprised, and relieved, when no one ran against her. She’s on the ballot again this year, with one Democratic opponent.
When the Democrats took the state House back from the Republicans in 1998, Earle’s colleagues elected her majority whip, making her the first African-American woman to hold the position.
Earle said she could sit anywhere in the House chamber, but chooses to sit toward the back with newer members. “It gives me a chance to bring them along, to help them understand the process,” she said. “I really enjoy the position.”
She strongly urges other workers to get involved in politics, whether it’s by running for office or simply helping someone else with a campaign. “When I go out and talk to people, I tell them you have to be your own best advocate,” she said. “These industries, they have high-paid lobbyists. You’ve got to get out there and do it yourself.”
But Earle, the majority whip in the North Carolina’s Democrat-led House of Representatives, quickly realized it wasn’t such a bad thing to be unpopular with the business community. “It’s clear that I don’t support business as much as I support human services and working families,” she said, laughing a little as she called herself a “bleeding heart for everybody.”
Her sensitivities come from years as a Bell South employee and a member of CWA Local 3603 in Charlotte, N.C. She retired last year after 30 years of service to the phone company, including a few years as a manager.
“Some of my colleagues in the other party don’t think very much of organized labor,” Earle said. “I’ve always been supportive. I’ve been able to see firsthand just how important it is to have some representation. Even in management, there are a lot of folks who wish they had an organized body to represent them with the company.”
Earle got involved in politics in 1985 when a neighbor running for the county commission asked her to be his fund raiser. “I had never done anything politically before, other than vote,” she said.
Her neighbor lost by a mere 29 votes. But Earle enjoyed the campaign so much she continued as a Democratic volunteer, often serving as a campaign manager. She’d never even thought about running for office until the man who held the House District 60 seat became ill in 1993.
Her friends encouraged her and, before she knew it, she had the incumbent’s support and the full weight of the Democratic Party behind her. Earle was surprised, and relieved, when no one ran against her. She’s on the ballot again this year, with one Democratic opponent.
When the Democrats took the state House back from the Republicans in 1998, Earle’s colleagues elected her majority whip, making her the first African-American woman to hold the position.
Earle said she could sit anywhere in the House chamber, but chooses to sit toward the back with newer members. “It gives me a chance to bring them along, to help them understand the process,” she said. “I really enjoy the position.”
She strongly urges other workers to get involved in politics, whether it’s by running for office or simply helping someone else with a campaign. “When I go out and talk to people, I tell them you have to be your own best advocate,” she said. “These industries, they have high-paid lobbyists. You’ve got to get out there and do it yourself.”