Recent Press Releases

The labor movement in West Virginia is commemorating significant milestones this Labor Day weekend, and the West Virginia AFL-CIO invites residents to safely celebrate the achievements of America’s working people.

“Members of the United Mine Workers of America and allies have already begun a 3-day, 50-mile trek to recreate the march to Blair Mountain, where the historic battle for worker rights took place,” WV AFL-CIO President Josh Sword said. “This is the perfect moment to reflect on the sacrifices of those before us -- including labor leaders Richard Trumka and Joe Powell, who we recently lost -- and vow to honor them by continuing this important work.”

Sword said there is also cause to celebrate.

The following is a statement from West Virginia AFL-CIO President Josh Sword, Secretary-Treasurer Andy Walters and the Vice Presidents that make up the WV AFL-CIO Executive Board regarding the sudden passing of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka:

Today West Virginia labor leaders mourn the tragic loss of a towering figure in the labor movement and a tireless fighter for working families across the country, even around the world. As a former coal miner who served for many years as president of the United Mine Workers of America, Richard had deep connections with West Virginia workers and traveled to our state countless times throughout his career to advocate on behalf of them. We offer our deepest condolences to his loved ones, and vow to continue fighting for working families in his honor.

Today, Teamster Local 175 members employed by Coca Cola Consolidated in Bluefield West Virginia voted unanimously to reject the company’s final offer for settlement of a new contract and authorize a strike. The contract expires on July 28, 2021. The company is proposing significant increases to the amount that employees pay for their health insurance plan despite the fact that major changes were made to their health insurance only one year ago. The company is also offering nearly 20 percent less in wage increases for their hourly employees compared to similarly situated employees at the company’s Charleston West Virginia branch. The company is also offering substantially less for their commission employees than they agreed to pay their employees in other locations in West Virginia. During negotiations, the company claimed that it has been negatively affected by COVID-19. The fact is, as evidence by the company’s own numbers, the company sold substantially more product and made substantially more money in 2020 than it had in the previous years. While the company is crying poor mouth when it comes time to give increases to their employees, the company’s CEO Frank Harrison III already exorbitant salary was increased over $688,000 in 2020. 

Members of the United Steelworkers and their allies will be rallying in front of the West Virginia Capitol Tuesday morning to urge Governor Justice and legislative leaders to take action to save 1,500 Viatris/Mylan jobs that are at risk.

They will be asking the governor to form a task force to explore how to prevent Viatris/Mylan -- one of the last manufacturers of generic prescription medicine in the United States – from closing the Morgantown facility.

WHAT:                      Rally for Viatris/Mylan jobs
WHEN:                      10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 8
WHERE:                   Steps on the river side of the State Capitol

America’s labor movement honored Workers Memorial Day on Wednesday. It’s an annual day of remembrance when unions and allies from across the country come together to reflect on those who have lost their lives on the job from accidents and as a result of chronic illness and injuries sustained from dangerous working conditions.

In 2020, 17 West Virginians lost their lives while on the job. These workers were fathers, daughters, brothers and sisters. They were first responders, coal miners and service workers. They were our friends, and they should not have lost their lives.

The loss of these jobs is a devastating blow affecting more than 1,500 employees, their families and their communities. In the face of this massive pandemic, we need manufacturing facilities like Mylan more than ever in our region. As a delegate and senator-elect, I will do everything within my power – including working with our legislative delegation, the governor, our representatives in Congress, and the United Steelworkers, which represents Mylan employees -- to convince company officials that closing this facility is the wrong choice.

I will urge Senators Manchin and Capito to bring us together as a SWAT team to quickly address this. We’ve weathered four years of empty promises from the White House about jobs that have never come to West Virginia. It is my hope that Governor Justice can leverage his close personal relationship with President Trump to work on reversing the economic freefall our state has been experiencing at the hands of billion-dollar corporations and help us save these Mylan jobs. I also expect that Senator Manchin will be reaching out to President-elect Biden’s administration to provide assistance moving forward.