Statement from West Virginia AFL-CIO Regarding Governor Jim Justice
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The West Virginia AFL-CIO has a rich history of supporting candidates for public office who stand for fair wages, good benefits and a safe workplace, regardless of party affiliation.
After last year’s gubernatorial primary, the WV AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education endorsed Jim Justice because he committed to support our position on issues that are important to West Virginia working families, not because of his party affiliation.
As a sign of that commitment, Governor Justice recently vetoed multiple bills that were part of the Republican legislative leadership’s damaging agenda aimed at hurting working families to the benefit of wealthy corporate interests.
Governor Justice’s decision to switch political parties is unnerving. But given his vow to only pursue legislation that helps working families succeed, we are hopeful that he will use his position as the most powerful Republican state official to steer the Republican legislative leadership away from its current War on Working Families.
We will be requesting a meeting with Governor Justice ASAP to confirm that he still stands by his commitment to support working families.
Until that confirmation, we defer making any further statements on this matter.
EXPOSE WALMART TOUR PRESS CONFERENCE AT STATE CAPITOL WALMART’S COST OF CRIME ON TOP OF AGENDA
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WHAT: 2017 Expose Walmart Tour – Press Conference
WHEN: Tuesday, May 23rd 2017, 4:00 PM
WHERE: West Virginia State Capitol (front steps), 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East
WHO: Making Change at Walmart along with local unions, workers, taxpayers, community groups, and the following speakers:
Josh Sword – President of West Virginia AFL-CIO
Ginny Moles – President of Alliance for Retired Americans
WHY: Walmart’s excessive police calls in the city of Charleston is a major drain on the community’s taxpayer-funded resources and public safety needs. It is shame that the Charleston police and taxpaying community have to cover the security costs of a company that profited $13.6 billion last year.
Steve White and Josh Sword: WV workers can build state’s roads (Daily Mail)
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The Daily Mail Opinion page editorial from May 9 (“Would governor’s jobs program put West Virginians to work?”) caught our eye because it raised some excellent questions regarding Gov. Jim Justice’s proposed jobs and infrastructure plan.
It is refreshing to see the Daily Mail Opinion page emphasize the needs of West Virginia working families by raising the following issues:
Coalition of Retired Employees Holds Annual Breakfast Meeting
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Members of the West Virginia Coalition of Retired Public Employees (CORPE) will gather at the state Capitol Thursday, March 2, to remind legislators of the benefits owed to the thousands of retired public employees who are struggling to get by.
“Public retirees are hurting more than ever,” noted CORPE spokesman Ernest “Spud” Terry. “Our pensions are stagnant and it’s been many years since we’ve had a Cost of Living Increase – now there are draconian cuts to PEIA.”
The coalition includes the West Virginia Association of Retired School Employees, West Virginia Public Retirement System Association and West Virginia chapters of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees; Communication Workers of America; National Active & Retired Federal Employees; American Federation of Teachers, and National Education Association.
United Food Operation kicks off 35th annual food distribution program
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When: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Friday, January 13, 2017
Where: United Food Operation Warehouse | Institute Industrial Park, Institute, WV | (Entrance across from Institute Post Office)
United Food Operation, Inc.(UFO) celebrates its 35th year of community service with a special kickoff event on Friday, Jan. 13 at 11:00 AM. UFO is an all-volunteer organization that purchases and distributes food to 12 participating community food pantries each winter season. The group serves Kanawha and Putnam counties.
The event will recognize the growth of food insecurity in our region and role that local food pantries and the United Food Operation play in fighting hunger.
This year’s food distribution program will run from Jan. 13 through April 1. For additional background information on United Food Operation please visit the program website at unitedfoodoperation.org.
We are a group of more than 575 affiliated unions joined together for the common cause of fairness for all workers.
The future of the working men and women of America depends on a strong, united labor movement. The strength of that movement is in our numbers: thousands of men and women united, striving for the same common goals
- fairness, justice, and equality in the workplace.
