WHAT:
Rally for IAM Local 598 members, currently on strike at Dow Chemical in South Charleston, as they fight for fair wages and benefits.
WHEN:
Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, at 4 p.m.
WHERE:
437 MacCorkle Ave. SW, South Charleston, WV
The following is a press release from IAM District 54.
Employees at Coca Cola in Beckley, WV voted to join Teamsters Local 175 early this year. After 5 months of negotiations between the TeamstersUnion and Coca Cola, the parties have been able to reach an agreement on a number of issues that would become part of a new contract. However, those negotiations came to a halt on Friday afternoon when the Company informed the Union they were unwilling to make any changes to their health insurance plan which includes outrageously high deductibles as well as co pays for the newly organized workers. To put it in perspective, the company wants the Beckley employees to pay 2-3 times more for a health insurance plan than other unionized employees in the State. Meaning those employees could be subject up to $12,000 per year of out of pocket expenses.
Volunteers from throughout the community will gather Saturday, May 11, at the main Post Office in Charleston to help load and distribute perishable food collected for local food pantries as part of the National Association of Letter Carriers annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. They will be assisted by the West Virginia National Guard.
“Thanks to our outstanding contributors and volunteers, each year we are able to help area pantries feed more than 30,000 West Virginians,” NALC Annual Food Drive Coordinator RD Henson said.
Volunteers from throughout the community will gather Saturday, May 11, at the main Post Office in Charleston to help load and distribute perishable food collected for local food pantries as part of the National Association of Letter Carriers annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. They will be assisted by the West Virginia National Guard.
“Thanks to our outstanding contributors and volunteers, each year we are able to help area pantries feed more than 30,000 West Virginians,” NALC Annual Food Drive Coordinator RD Henson said.
BENWOOD – To honor West Virginia workers who died on the job - 20 were lost in 2023 - the West Virginia AFL-CIO and the Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler Central Labor Council will hold the 36th annual Workers Memorial Ceremony Sunday, April 28, in Benwood, WV.
“As we do each year, we will read the names of West Virginians who lost their lives due to workplace injury and illness, take a moment to pay tribute to them, and vow to keep fighting for the promise of safe jobs for all workers,” West Virginia AFL-CIO President Josh Sword said. “In 2023, 20 West Virginians lost their lives while on the job. They were first responders, coal miners, utility workers, those in the timber industry and transportation, our friends and neighbors, and they should have returned home safely to their loved ones.”
“Using bullying tactics that included holding hostage a tax cut for West Virginia retirees, and pay raises for state police, teachers and school service personnel, members of the Senate leadership proved they will stop at nothing to create instability and unpredictability for people who lose their jobs due to no fault of their own.
“It’s disturbing that people who are supposed to be leading the Legisature with the goal of helping improve West Virginians’ lives would instead spend all their time and energy on hurting working people.
“This bill was pushed through in the last hour of the 60-day legislative session, after weeks of strong-arm attempts to find support among delegates for other versions to no avail. When the majority of House members finally caved to the need to pass other important legislation the Senate was spitefully refusing to act on, members voted on a last-minute version that clearly the vast majority of members had no understanding of. It was a complete farce.
“The state Unemployment Fund, which is healthier than it’s ever been, exists to help any one of us who suddenly find ourselves out of a job. Every citizen of this state should think long and hard about why those in the legislative leadership want to cut down that safety net.”
