Raleigh

Whether it's four or eight years, Gov. Bev Perdue will be performing a precarious high-wire act for the remainder of her time in office.

Just the other day, Perdue took a bobble to one side of the wire. She signed an executive order that pushed state employees a tad closer to collective bargaining rights.

Right now, North Carolina and Virginia are the only states with specific laws prohibiting collective bargaining by public-sector workers, although most states ban strikes by government employees.

Unions want the law taken off the books. So over the last decade, the Teamsters and Service Employees International Union have been pouring money into North Carolina political campaigns, most of it going to Democrats.

In 2004, SEIU put $1.4 million into legislative races. It also routed $500,000 through the Republican Governors Association to try to help Republican Patrick Ballantine defeat Democratic Gov. Mike Easley.

In 2008, SEIU threw $1.8 million at North Carolina candidates. The National Education Association - the teachers' union - spent another $1.7 million on an independent expenditure campaign on behalf of Perdue.

That same year, the 55,000-member State Employees Association of North Carolina decided to affiliate with SEIU, becoming a statewide local of the union.

Perdue sees herself as something of a successor to Jim Hunt - a moderate, pro-business Southerner with vast legislative experience and a keen understanding of party politics. But she also knows where her bread is buttered.

Unions are pumping a lot more campaign dollars into the state today than during Hunt's time as governor. SEANC and the NEA's state affiliate, the North Carolina Association of Educators, have been key Perdue supporters.

But Perdue and the moderate Democrats who have largely controlled state politics since Hunt first took office in the 1970s also rely heavily on the support of big business, particularly the banks and utility companies.

As best she can, Perdue will try to keep them happy too. She continues to say that she opposes collective bargaining for public sector employees.

Nonetheless, the other day she gave more ground than ever on the issue.

Perdue's new executive order will allow quarterly meetings between state agency representatives (that would be management) and the representatives of employee groups. A representative of qualifying employee groups will also meet annually with a representative of the governor's office and quarterly with the state personnel director.

The topics of "mutual concern" to be discussed include "terms and conditions of employment."

Discussions aren't formal bargaining. And this order replaces a similar one signed by Easley in 2006.

But the Perdue order is far more specific and will lead to more meetings between agency management and employees.

Perdue spokesman Tim Crowley downplayed the significance of the changes. So did Dana Cope, SEANC's executive director.

You tend to try to minimize the moves to one side or the other, and what they mean, when trying to walk a perfect line high above the ground.

Scott Mooneyham writes for Capitol Press Association in Raleigh. Contact him at smooneyh@ncinsider.com.