RALEIGH, N.C.  – Labor groups seeking to end North Carolina’s ban on collective bargaining for public workers say employees can help government reduce costs fairly if they’re at the table.      

Lawmakers and public employees spoke Tuesday at the Legislative Building and said there’s more support than ever to end the 50-year-old ban. North Carolina and Virginia are the only states with such a prohibition.

A bill to repeal the ban passed a House committee in 2007, but advanced no further.

The Rev. William Barber of the state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said bargaining is needed more than ever given the bad economy.

The employer group Capital Associated Industries said lifting the ban could lead to tax increases and larger government.