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CHARLESTON, West Virginia — The West Virginia AFL-CIO estimates that about 7,000 people attended a rally protesting actions and proposals by the state's Republican Legislature.

The "Mountaineer Workers Rising Rally" at the state Capitol Saturday was organized to protest Republican proposals that union leaders say are bad for workers. Labor groups are opposing the introduction of charter schools, changes to the state prevailing wage for construction projects, and legislation that they say weakens coal mining safety regulations.



CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thousands of West Virginians lines the capitol steps lobbying against controversial legislation working its way through the State House.

They call themselves Mountaineer Workers Rising and Saturday, nearly 7,000 of them protested against legislation they said will hurt West Virginia working families.

“Trying to stop the insanity that the Republicans are trying to put on use, Right to Work and Prevailing Wage,” Connie Guiseppi, with the Operating Engineers Union said.



Thousands of people came to the West Virginia Capitol building in Charleston on Saturday to hear from the leaders of America’s most prominent labor unions at a rally to protest against the agenda of the new Republican majority in the Legislature.

For more than two hours, the crowd listened to labor leaders denounce charter schools, “right-to-work” laws, mine safety rollbacks and the revamping of West Virginia’s prevailing-wage law.

CHARLESTON – Standing strong against politically motivated attacks on West Virginia working families, close to 7,000 made their way to Charleston today to celebrate “Mountaineer Workers Rising.”

“This has been a powerful display of unity that sends a clear message to the legislators who are at this very moment inside the State Capitol, making decisions that directly affect West Virginia families,” West Virginia AFL-CIO President Kenny Perdue said. “The people who have gathered here today represent a huge segment of our state’s population, and they want lawmakers to know that they are paying attention.”

Thousands West Virginians will travel to the State Capitol Saturday to celebrate Mountaineer Workers rising and standing together against legislative attacks on our working families.

“This is a chance for workers from throughout the region to come together in solidarity and speak up, in a unified voice, about the jobs and way of life we are fighting to protect,” WVAFL-CIO President Kenny Perdue said. “This is about educating our children, building our communities and improving the state’s economy.”

National AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts and Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall will be part of a large delegation of labor international presidents and officers who will attend the “Mountaineer Workers Rising” event.

At least 40 busloads carrying thousands of people are expected at the rally, which will begin at noon on the riverside steps of the State Capitol.