They voiced support for President Barack Obama's re-election bid while lamenting adversarial attitudes toward organized labor in the state Democrats chose for the presidential nominating convention.

 

More than 300 people marched in the Charlotte Labor Day Parade a day before the kickoff of the Democratic National Convention, carrying signs, wearing matching shirts and chanting. In contrast to a protest the previous day, the atmosphere was overwhelmingly pro-Obama, family-friendly and generally low-key. The police presence was much lighter.

 

The selection of Charlotte for the convention has been a sore point with union leaders. Many unions are refusing to financially support this week's convention for reasons including North Carolina's ban on collective bargaining for teachers and other public workers.