Recent Press
- Union members will rally Thursday to urge Sen. Capito to support PRO Act
- Teamsters at Bluefield WV Coca Cola Distribution Center Reject Contract
- Rally for Viatris/Mylan jobs Tuesday
- Public Employees Launch Legal Challenge of Paycheck Bill
- Josh Sword: West Virginia workers need PRO Act (Opinion)
- Workers Memorial Event | Wednesday, April 28th
- Statement from West Virginia AFL-CIO President Josh Sword on Sen. Joe Manchin’s Co-Sponsorship of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act
- WV AFL-CIO: Gayle Manchin knows Appalachia
- WV AFL-CIO: Legislative leaders using COVID restrictions to shut out public
- Teamsters at AHF Products Ratify Agreement
- Statement from Delegate and state Senator-elect Mike Caputo, a member of the West Virginia AFL-CIO executive board, regarding the Mylan announcement this morning
- The WV AFL-CIO celebrates Labor Day
- Union representatives commemorate National Correctional Officers & Employees Week
- WV AFL-CIO's Annual Workers Memorial Service Tuesday
- WV AFL-CIO rescinds endorsement of Justice Hutchison
- WV AFL-CIO President responds to WV Supreme Court ruling
- West Virginia AFL-CIO Endorses Isaac Sponaugle for Attorney General
- West Virginia AFL-CIO Endorses Bob Beach for State Agriculture Commissioner
- Coalition of Retired Employees to Hold Annual Legislative Breakfast Meeting Thursday
- IUPAT DC 53 Joins Fifth Annual “Imagine a Day Without Water” to Raise Awareness About the Value of Water
- Day Without Water event Wednesday
- A statement from West Virginia AFL-CIO President Josh Sword regarding Murray Energy's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing
- WV AFL-CIO invites all West Virginians to celebrate working people this weekend
- WV AFL-CIO, UMWA President Cecil Roberts, local labor leaders to honor those who died on the job
- 2019 Annual Coating & Corrosion Expo Announced
- Details
After more than four decades of working in the labor movement and nearly 20 years with the West Virginia AFL-CIO, President Kenny Perdue plans to retire at the end of this year.
“While I look forward to spending more time with my wife and family (which includes eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren), this decision didn’t come easily,” Perdue said. “Throughout my years of service, I have been inspired by the work ethic, integrity and kindness of working West Virginians, who ask for no more than the fair wages, quality benefits and safe workplaces they deserve.”
Prior to taking office as President of the West Virginia AFL-CIO in 2004, Perdue was Secretary-Treasurer of the organization for seven years, and served as Vice President of the WV AFL-CIO from 1989 to 1997. During his career as a sheet metal worker, Perdue was elected business representative for the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #33, as was his father and one of his brothers. In addition, two other brothers, three nephews, a son-in-law and a grandson are also part of the sheet metal worker trade.
“It has been a true pleasure advocating for West Virginia working families and representing our union partners,” Perdue said. “I look forward to assisting as the West Virginia AFL-CIO and the labor movement across our country continues this critical work.”
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As if he hasn’t shown enough disdain for working people, Bill Cole is bringing Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to West Virginia today.
Scott Walker has built his political career on attacking unions. In Wisconsin, he pushed through Right to Work, among many other initiatives intended to lower wages and benefit big corporations, and now he’s coming here to help Bill Cole and his legislative allies this election.
Union members will gather outside their Charleston event to tell Bill Cole and Scott Walker their anti-worker agenda isn’t welcome here.
Who: Working People
What: Protest of Bill Cole and Scott Walker
When: 11:30 a.m. today, Oct. 28
Where: Corner of Capitol and Virginia Streets, Charleston
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The fact that Bill Cole is owner of a company that has a history of workplace safety violations that drew more than $20,000 in fines -- including one that ultimately resulted in the amputation of a worker’s hand -- comes as no surprise to West Virginia AFL-CIO President Kenny Perdue.
“Bill Cole and his Republican leadership team have repeatedly pushed legislation to loosen safety regulations and put in place policies that make workplaces less safe,” President Perdue said. “Bill Cole has shown a consistent pattern of placing the profit of his corporate allies far above the safety of West Virginia workers, and unfortunately that pattern appears to also hold true for Tennessee workers.”
As the Charleston Gazette-Mail noted in an article today ( https://goo.gl/K2MBRk ), government records show that S&S Screw Machine Holding Co. LLC in Sparta, Tennessee, which Bill Cole co-owns, paid more than $20,000 in fines after being cited for workplace safety violations during the past five years.
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Labor 2016 Phone Banks
Phone Banks for the Labor 2016 campaign are up and running out of the WV AFL-CIO office in Charleston (501 Leon Sullivan Way) until November 8th. Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday 9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. To volunteer, please contact Ginny Moles: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 304-389-9093.
Labor 2016 Door-to-Door Campaign
Door-to-door activities are also up and running across the state and will continue Monday through Saturday until November 8th. Zone Leads will work with all volunteers as to the time of day and how many hours their schedules allow them to participate. Contact one of the below Zone Leads and s/he will provide training and all materials needed to start going door-to-door for this very important election, including the use of the MiniVAN App if this is preferable to paper walk lists.
Contact a Zone Lead to discuss.
Zone 1
- Counties of Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler and Wetzel | Ryan Omaits – 740-298-2075
Zone 2
- Counties of Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, Mineral, Hampshire Grant and Hardy | Danny Lutz – 304-886-5771
Zone 3
- Counties of Marion and Taylor | Mark Dorsey – 304-777-7642
- Counties of Monongalia and Preston | JD Wilson – 304-919-0234
- Counties of Barbour, Harrison and Upshur | Steve Perdue – 304-203-8744
Zone 4
- Counties of Richie, Wirt, Wood and Pleasants | Andrew Stump – 304-991-6890
- Counties of Kanawha and Putnam | John Epperly – 304-747-8032
- Counties of Mason, Jackson and Roane | Dave Martin – 304-532-2842
Zone 5
- Counties of Fayette, Raleigh, Summers, Monroe, Mercer, Greenbrier, Wyoming and McDowell | Wayne Rebich – 304-890-3549
Zone 6
- Counties of Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln, Mingo and Logan | Vikki Tully – 1-304-928-4104
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CHARLESTON – A group of West Virginia working people plan to protest an event to be held today in Charleston by a Koch-funded group dedicated to pursuing an anti-worker agenda intended to lower wages to the benefit of big corporations.
The West Virginia chapter of Americans for Prosperity is holding a “policy conference” today at Four Points by Sheraton featuring the Director of Policy for the national Americans for Prosperity group, Akash Chougule. West Virginia representatives who pushed for passage of the so-called “Right to Work” law and repeal of the state Prevailing Wage will also be in attendance, according to the invitation.
“This group is funded by out-of-state millionaires and billionaires who have absolutely no interest in helping working families or creating good-paying jobs in West Virginia,” West Virginia AFL-CIO President Kenny Perdue noted. “Our members will be there to point out that fact, and to remind members of the public that Bill Cole and the other legislators who carry this group’s water are only serving their own self interests, not the interests of West Virginia residents.”
What: Protest of Americans for Prosperity Event
When: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today, Sept. 19
Where: In front of Four Points by Sheraton, 600 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston