Press Release Archives

IMG 3342


As West Virginians enjoy spending time with family and friends this Labor Day weekend, the West Virginia AFL-CIO invites residents to attend one of the many parades and events honoring the achievements of America’s working people.

“This Labor Day weekend, as we celebrate the working families of our country, especially here in West Virginia, we are also thankful that unions continue to enjoy the support of the public,” WV AFL-CIO President Josh Sword said.

CHARLESTON – Unions representing public employees will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Friday, March 3, in front of the House of Delegates chamber entrance to discuss legislation that would make sweeping changes to insurance coverage for 230,000 PEIA plan participants.

Senate Bill 268 will trigger a 26 percent increase in employee premiums for state participants; penalize public employees that are married; potentially lead to the exclusion of local police, firefighters and emergency services employees from PEIA; and create even more uncertainty regarding the status of retirees participating in PEIA. The legislation passed the Senate and is currently being considered by the House of Delegates with a little more than a week left in the regular 2023 legislative session. 

WHAT:  Press conference discussing impact of PEIA legislation
WHEN:  10 a.m., Friday, March 2, 2023
WHERE:  Front of House of Delegates chamber entrance, East side of the Capitol

WHEELING, W. Va. — The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that union-represented employees of Tecnocap will rally for fair treatment on Saturday, February 11, while the company celebrates 15 years of doing business in the U.S. with a lavish, Italian opera-themed party.

Many Tecnocap employees recently have been laid off, and the union has been forced to file unfair labor practice complaints due to the company’s refusal to engage in good faith contract negotiations with the union that represents its workers.

CHARLESTON – To honor the 15 West Virginia workers who died on the job in 2021, the West Virginia AFL-CIO and the Kanawha Valley Labor Council will hold an in-person event at noon, Thursday, April 28, at the state Capitol commemorating the 34th annual Workers Memorial Day.

“As we do each year, we will read the names of West Virginia victims of 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 2021, 15 West Virginians lost their lives while on the job. They were first responders, public safety officers, coal miners, and machine operators, and they should have returned home safely to their loved ones.”

On April 28, unions of the AFL-CIO throughout the country will observe Workers Memorial Day to remember thosewho have suffered and died on the job, and to call for action to make workplaces safe.

The West Virginia event will be broadcast via Facebook Live.

WHAT:                      34th Annual Workers Memorial Ceremony   

WHEN:                      Noon, Thursday, April 28, 2022

WHERE:                   Lower Rotunda, State Capitol, Charleston

Facebook.com/westvirginia.aflcio

CHARLESTON – More than 150 labor leaders from across West Virginia gathered virtually today for the West Virginia AFL-CIO’s 30th Constitutional Convention to adopt policies and elect officers, including unanimously re-electing President Josh Sword, Secretary-Treasurer Andy Walters, and the fourteen incumbent vice presidents that make up the WV AFL-CIO Executive Board to four-year terms.

The elected board members are: Fred Albert, AFT; Heather Anderson, USW; Bob Brown, AFT; Mike Caputo, UMWA; Joe Carter, UMWA; Dan Doyle, AFGE; John Epperly, State Building Trades; Joyce Gibson, SEIU; Elaine Harris, CWA; Jessie King, LIUNA; Charles Parker, IUOE; Dan Poling IUPAT; Gary Southall, UFCW; and Brian Wedge, USW.

Teamster Local 175 members employed by Coca Cola Consolidated in Bluefield West Virginia voted by 95% to accept the company’s latest offer for settlement of a new contract. The contract expired on July 28, 2021. The companies latest offer resulted in additional wage increases as well as a drastic reduction in the amounts of money that the company had previously demanded that employees contribute to their health insurance.