Greg Bruhn: Labor nightmares

One of the more memorable “60 Minutes” interviews took place when the late Ed Bradley confronted a government official accused of falling asleep when African-American farmers seeking loans came to his office.

The official didn’t avoid Bradley or the cameras at a public event in Emporia, Va. The man even responded to the accusations regarding his unresponsive state by suggesting that “atmospheric pressures” weighed heavily on his eyelids, resulting in sleep. Bradley was incredulous when he questioned the rationale of “atmospheric pressures” being the culprit in denying service for a specific group of clients. The official had no other excuse.

State Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry hasn’t blamed atmospheric pressures for the inability of her department to use its clout to represent clients seeking pay they are entitled to from former employers, but she cites other reasons (“Berry to workers: ‘No further action’,” Oct. 11 news article).

Berry’s tenure as labor commissioner has perpetuated conditions where residents are frequently denied the action and results they would have received in other states, and the possibility of that changing under her watch is remote.

I imagine requesting additional personnel and resources to get the job done might upset some politicians who are invested in not tarnishing North Carolina’s “business-friendly atmosphere.”

This story was originally published October 17, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Greg Bruhn: Labor nightmares."