Tag: West Virginia AFL-CIO

August 12, 1997: Wheeling-Pitt Strike Ends After 10 Months

On August 12, 1997, the contentious Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel strike came to an end. The United Steelworkers of America’s 10-month work stoppage was the nation’s longest steel manufacturing strike on record, putting 4,500 workers out of work in eight plants in three states, including West Virginia.

The main goal of the strike was to increase workers’ pension benefits, which had been reduced after new owners led the struggling company out of bankruptcy in 1989. By 1994, Wheeling-Pitt had regained its place among industry leaders, and the workers wanted their pension benefits restored.

The negotiations were complex and bitter. Both sides were unyielding. In March 1996, Senator Jay Rockefeller convened a meeting in Washington, but little progress was made. Another meeting was set in Pittsburgh, but the company refused the union’s offer and walked out. Finally, in August, a contract was ratified.

The West Virginia AFL-CIO claimed victory because the new contract increased pension benefits and allowed for early retirements. In return, the company was allowed to reduce its workforce by nearly 20 percent.

After several more ownership changes, Wheeling-Pitt shut down for good in 2012.

Salango Endorsed By WV-AFT, Calls On Justice To Outline Plans For Federal Dollars In Public Schools

West Virginia gubernatorial hopeful Ben Salango, a Democrat, joined members of the state’s American Federation of Teachers and AFL-CIO chapters Monday to call on Gov. Jim Justice to outline how he intends to use federal money to help public schools open safely this fall.

Justice has made it clear he wants West Virginia’s public schools to reopen on Sept. 8 for 180 instructional days, and if possible, to be open, in full, to in-person learning. The West Virginia Department of Education has provided each of West Virginia’s 55 counties with a toolkit on recommendations for reopening and health guidelines.

On Monday, gubernatorial candidate Salango urged Justice to clarify how federal dollars will be used for schools at a press conference hosted by the West Virginia chapter of the AFT.

“If we don’t take proper steps now and plan, our schools are going to be a breeding ground for COVID-19,” Salango said. “We’ve got to make sure that we are protecting our children.”

Salango said he’s supportive of in-person school in the fall. He pointed to ways federal dollars could be used to pay for things like temperature scanners, healthcare professionals, revamping schools’ ventilation systems and purchasing sanitation products.

Salango also said $80 million would provide each student in West Virginia with an iPad that has cellular connectivity.

At the press conference, he urged Justice to pull this money from the federal CARES Act.

According to the West Virginia Department of Education, West Virginia received more than $1 billion in CARES Act funds. From that, West Virginia’s elementary and secondary education received $86.6 million in a fund called the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSERF), earmarked to address the needs brought on by COVID-19.

Ninety percent of this appropriation is directly distributed to school districts in West Virginia to use at their discretion, while the other 10 percent is retained by the Department of Education to address emergency needs.

In Monday’s virtual press briefing with the governor, Justice announced that an additional $94 million in federal monies would be distributed to all of West Virginia’s public schools. But he said this money is separate from the CARES Act funds.

“It doesn’t have anything to do with our CARES Act at all,” Justice said. “[It] has nothing to do with that, but they got $94 million right now to be able to use … with COVID related issues for K-12.”

At the press conference with Salango, both the West Virginia AFT and the AFL-CIO officially endorsed Salango for governor of West Virginia.

Both unions have been critical of Justice’s handling of public education issues in the past.

October 2, 1924: Labor Leader Miles Stanley Is Born

Miles Stanley was born in Dunbar on October 2, 1924. Before his untimely death at age 49, he would become one of West Virginia’s most important labor leaders.

Stanley served in the army artillery during World War II. He then went to work in a steel factory and, in 1947, became president of his local union. After rising quickly through the labor ranks, he was elected president of the newly created West Virginia Federation of Labor AFL-CIO in 1957. In this influential position, he urged the Appalachian region to develop a more skilled workforce. And, for his emphasis on human rights in the workplace, he was named as an adviser to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. In the mid-‘60s, he moved to Washington, D. C., for several years to serve as a personal assistant to national AFL-CIO president George Meany. However, in 1967, he returned to West Virginia, where he continued to build the state’s AFL-CIO into a major political force.

Miles Stanley died suddenly of a heart attack on May 3, 1974. The state’s AFL-CIO building in Charleston is named in his honor.

New President of WV AFL-CIO Announced

West Virginia AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Josh Sword has been appointed to fill the unexpired term of President Kenny Perdue, who is retiring at the end of this year.  

The organization’s Executive Board decided in a unanimous vote Tuesday that Sword should take the helm noting his extensive experience and his dedicated service with the West Virginia AFL-CIO.

Joe Carter, a member of the Executive Board and longtime United Mine Workers of America leader, will serve as interim Secretary-Treasurer.

Perdue has spent the past 12 years representing 575 local unions and 140,000 active and retired members of the AFL-CIO.  He sat down with us earlier this week.

Josh Sword takes office on January 1. The current presidential term expires in October 2017, when the WV AFL-CIO will hold its constitutional convention.

Head of State's Largest Workers Union to Retire

The head of West Virginia’s largest workers union is retiring after more than a decade of service. 

West Virginia AFL-CIO President Kenny Perdue announced his retirement this week in an email to union members. 

Perdue has led the union since 2004 and previously served as the union’s vice president and secretary-treasurer. Before that, he served as a local union leader and has been involved in organized labor for more than four decades.

A native of Clarksburg, Perdue is also a member of the West Virginia Workforce Investment Council. 

In his written statement, Perdue said he will step down at the end of the year and looks forward to spending more time with his family.

His email said:

After more than four decades of working in the labor movement and nearly 20 years with the West Virginia AFL-CIO, I have decided to retire at the end of this year.    While I look forward to spending more time with my wife and family (which includes eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren), this decision didn’t come easily.  Throughout my years of service, I have been inspired by the work ethic, integrity and kindness of working West Virginians, who ask for no more than the fair wages, quality benefits and safe workplaces they deserve.   I am deeply grateful for your support of our efforts, and look forward to assisting as the West Virginia AFL-CIO and the labor movement across our country continues this critical work.  

 
Perdue’s retirement comes at a transitional time for unions in West Virginia. Lawmakers have passed legislation during the past two years that union leaders like Perdue call an attacks on workers.

That legislation includes a repeal of the state’s prevailing wage and the passage of a bill that prevents unions from automatically collecting dues from non-union workers. The right-to-work law is being held up in a state court because of a lawsuit led by several unions, including the AFL-CIO.

Right-to-Work Challenge Hearing Scheduled in West Virginia

A union challenge of West Virginia’s new “right-to-work” law is slated for a court hearing.

A West Virginia AFL-CIO news release says the hearing will take place Wednesday in Kanawha County Circuit Court in front of Judge Jennifer Bailey.

The AFL-CIO and 10 other unions are seeking an injunction to block the law. The law took effect for new and updated contracts starting July 1.

Unions also want their separate challenges combined.

The unions contend the law is an illegal taking of union property and resources. State Chamber of Commerce President Steve Roberts, a right-to-work advocate, said the challenge was not unexpected.

The legislation allows employees in union shops to opt out of paying union dues. Employees still receive union benefits and representation, whether they pay dues or not.

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