Recent Press Releases

Members of the press and public are invited to the West Virginia AFL-CIO’s annual Workers Memorial Day this Sunday, April 28, at the Farmington No. 9 Mine Disaster Memorial to honor the 23 West Virginians who lost their lives on the job in 2018.

“On April 28, the unions of the AFL-CIO throughout the country observe Workers Memorial Day to remember those who have suffered and died on the job, and to renew the fight for safe jobs,” said WV AFL-CIO President Josh Sword. “Here in West Virginia, we pledge to stand united against the ongoing attacks on workers’ rights and protections, and demand that elected officials put workers’ well-being above corporate interests.”

WESTON – The International Union Painters and Allied Trades District Council 53 is hosting the 7^th annual Coating & Corrosion Expo this week at the FTI Training Center in Weston to provide free training related to surface preparation and coating application. 

“Corrosion costs US households, businesses, and government agencies more than $300 billion each year” said Brian Stanley of District Council 53.  “That’s $1,100 for every man, woman and child in this country.  Corrosion results in excessive maintenance/repair/replacement, lost production/down time, product contamination and loss of product.” 

In an encouraging sign of unity within the West Virginia labor movement, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 175 made a unanimous decision this past Saturday to affiliate with the West Virginia AFL-CIO.

“West Virginia working families have been under attack by the legislative leadership for the past five years, and the Teamsters and the West Virginia AFL-CIO have worked side by side to combat that effort,” said Teamsters Local 175 President Ken Hall, who is also General Secretary-Treasurer of the Teamsters international. “I look forward to working with WV AFL-CIO President Josh Sword, Secretary-Treasurer Andy Walters and their team, including all the affiliates and the network of 13 regional Central Labor Councils across the state, to spread our message and build even more support. 

The following is a statement from West Virginia AFL-CIO President Josh Sword and Secretary-Treasurer Andy Walters regarding House Minority Whip Mike Caputo, UMWA International District 31 Vice President emeritus and a Vice President of the West Virginia AFL-CIO:

When the West Virginia Republican Party included a hate group’s poster among their sanctioned displays at “WV GOP Day” at the Capitol last Friday -- a blatant effort to agitate and incite anger -- the only reasonable choice for the Republican House leadership was to seek to remove the offensive content before the matter escalated.  Unfortunately, they refused. 

CHARLESTON -- West Virginia working families won a major victory today, when Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey struck down the so-called “Right to Work” law aimed at attacking unions. 

“Judge Bailey was right-on with her ruling,” West Virginia AFL-CIO President Josh Sword said. “She made it very clear that this bill violates the West Virginia Constitutional rights of unions and individuals with regard to association, property and liberty.

Members of the West Virginia Coalition of Retired Public Employees (CORPE) will gather at the state Capitol for a breakfast on Thursday, February 14, to remind legislators of the thousands of retired public employees who are struggling to get by.

“Retirees who are part of the Public Employee and Teachers retirement systems are dealing with undue hardships because they have not had a Cost of Living Adjustment and are not provided the tax exemptions that other West Virginia public retirees get on their pension,” noted CORPE spokesman Ernest “Spud” Terry. “Meanwhile PEIA is underfunded and health care costs continue to rise.