The Democrats and Organized Labor

In Cleveland on this Labor Day, President Obama spoke to an audience of United Auto Workers. On Thursday, he will accept re-nomination here in Charlotte, from a convention where organized labor is playing a much smaller role than it has for decades. In a letter to union officials, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka wrote, "We will not be making major monetary contributions to the convention...we won't be buying skyboxes, boosting events... or bringing a big staff contingent to the convention." North Carolina is a right-to-work state. Are the Democrats turning their backs on a historic support group? Does organized labor still matter? We hear from labor leaders and others, including Occupy protesters in America's second largest financial center after New York.

To the Point is broadcasting live from the Democratic convention all week. You can find all our coverage at KCRW.org/election2012.