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.

By in News | February 16, 2015 at 5:48PM

CHARLESTON, W. Va – The snow and bone-chilling temperatures didn’t stop state-wide union workers from rallying against the prevailing wage law change at the State Capitol Monday afternoon in Charleston.

The Show Up and Stand Up Rally was led by Senator Minority Leader Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall, 02) who called for a public show of opposition towards many bills Republican leaders are moving this Regular Legislative Session.

Hundreds of people packed the steps on the Kanawha River side of the state Capitol at noon on Monday to protest new legislation they believe threatens wages, working conditions and public schools.

Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, organized the “Show Up, Stand Up” rally. “It’s time for hardworking West Virginians to come directly to the Capitol and stand up to the West Virginia GOP’s attack on our hardworking West Virginia families. Your voices need to be heard,” Kessler said.

Charleston, W.Va. - Karen Gorrell, an activist working to win back health-care benefits for retired Century Aluminum workers and their wives, visited Charleston Monday to protest the Ravenswood company's decision to stop paying their health-care benefits.

Gorrell was one of nine retirees and their wives who held signs in front of the federal courthouse in Charleston and the state Capitol. They later met with political leaders.

RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. — A representative of the Century Aluminum retirees who spent Monday picketing outside of the Jackson County facility said those retirees were at the plant’s Ravenswood entrance with a message.

“We are still out here uninsured and Century still has not stepped up to the plate and we, certainly, have not given up,” said Karen Gorrell.