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CHARLOTTE – Some key allies of the Democratic Party say they won't participate in the 2012 convention in Charlotte.

Thirteen unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO voted to sit out because the members objected to selecting a right-to-work state as a host.

"It's easy to understand why folks are disappointed and frustrated," acknowledged MaryBe McMillan, with the NC AFL-CIO.  "But I don't think that sitting out this convention because it's in the least-unionized state is going to do anything to help the situation in North Carolina and make us a more worker-friendly state."

In a letter to the Democratic Party Chairman, the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO expressed frustration with the party leadership for choosing Charlotte as the host city.

When Charlotte was selected, another union - the International Association of Machinists - objected, as well. The IAM said it would skip the convention because it was slated to start on Labor Day in a right-to-work state.

But McMillan hopes the choice of the Queen City will help spur changes.

"We at the North Carolina AFL-CIO see this convention as an opportunity to get much needed work for union members and for thousands of unemployed workers here in North Carolina," she said.

The Democratic National Convention Committee issued a brief statement from it's CEO, Steve Kerrigan: "We were proud to have the support of local labor leaders when we chose Charlotte to host the 2012 Democratic Convention, including the NC AFL-CIO. The DNCC will continue to work closely with local and national labor leaders as we prepare for the Convention next September."

In 2008, Democrats held their convention at the non-unionized Pepsi Center in Denver.

After opposition from labor groups, the DNC negotiated a deal to staff the convention with union workers. McMillan said they're working on a similar deal in Charlotte.

"The national AFL-CIO will be negotiating a contract to make sure that as much work as possible goes to union members," she said. "We have local union members in Charlotte that are excited about the work this convention is going to bring to them."

However, it's not clear whether such an agreement would ease the concerns of the disgruntled building trades.