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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.

Noting Sword’s extensive experience in the West Virginia labor movement and his dedicated service with the West Virginia AFL-CIO, the organization’s Executive Board decided in a unanimous vote Tuesday that Sword should take the helm, and that Joe Carter, a member of the Executive Board and longtime United Mine Workers of America leader, will serve as interim Secretary-Treasurer.

The WV AFL-CIO Executive Board includes 14 vice presidents that represent 575 local unions and 140,000 active and retired members of the AFL-CIO. The current presidential term expires in October 2017, when the WV AFL-CIO will hold its constitutional convention.

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After more than four decades of working in the labor movement and nearly 20 years with the West Virginia AFL-CIO, President Kenny Perdue plans 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,” Perdue said. “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.”

Prior to taking office as President of the West Virginia AFL-CIO in 2004, Perdue was Secretary-Treasurer of the organization for seven years, and served as Vice President of the WV AFL-CIO from 1989 to 1997. During his career as a sheet metal worker, Perdue was elected business representative for the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #33, as was his father and one of his brothers. In addition, two other brothers, three nephews, a son-in-law and a grandson are also part of the sheet metal worker trade.   

“It has been a true pleasure advocating for West Virginia working families and representing our union partners,” Perdue said. “I look forward to assisting as the West Virginia AFL-CIO and the labor movement across our country continues this critical work.”

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image002As if he hasn’t shown enough disdain for working people, Bill Cole is bringing Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to West Virginia today.

Scott Walker has built his political career on attacking unions. In Wisconsin, he pushed through Right to Work, among many other initiatives intended to lower wages and benefit big corporations, and now he’s coming here to help Bill Cole and his legislative allies this election.

Union members will gather outside their Charleston event to tell Bill Cole and Scott Walker their anti-worker agenda isn’t welcome here.

Who:    Working People

What:   Protest of Bill Cole and Scott Walker

When:  11:30 a.m. today, Oct. 28

Where: Corner of Capitol and Virginia Streets, Charleston

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The fact that Bill Cole is owner of a company that has a history of workplace safety violations that drew more than $20,000 in fines -- including one that ultimately resulted in the amputation of a worker’s hand -- comes as no surprise to West Virginia AFL-CIO President Kenny Perdue.

“Bill Cole and his Republican leadership team have repeatedly pushed legislation to loosen safety regulations and put in place policies that make workplaces less safe,” President Perdue said. “Bill Cole has shown a consistent pattern of placing the profit of his corporate allies far above the safety of West Virginia workers, and unfortunately that pattern appears to also hold true for Tennessee workers.”

As the Charleston Gazette-Mail noted in an article today ( https://goo.gl/K2MBRk ), government records show that S&S Screw Machine Holding Co. LLC in Sparta, Tennessee, which Bill Cole co-owns, paid more than $20,000 in fines after being cited for workplace safety violations during the past five years.

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Labor 2016 Phone Banks

Phone Banks for the Labor 2016 campaign are up and running out of the WV AFL-CIO office in Charleston (501 Leon Sullivan Way) until November 8th.   Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday 9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.  To volunteer, please contact Ginny Moles: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 304-389-9093.  

Labor 2016 Door-to-Door Campaign

Door-to-door activities are also up and running across the state and will continue Monday through Saturday until November 8th.   Zone Leads will work with all volunteers as to the time of day and how many hours their schedules allow them to participate.  Contact one of the below Zone Leads and s/he will provide training and all materials needed to start going door-to-door for this very important election, including the use of the MiniVAN App if this is preferable to paper walk lists.

Contact a Zone Lead to discuss.  

Zone 1 

  • Counties of Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler and Wetzel | Ryan Omaits – 740-298-2075

Zone 2 

  • Counties of Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, Mineral, Hampshire Grant and Hardy | Danny Lutz – 304-886-5771

Zone 3

  • Counties of Marion and Taylor | Mark Dorsey – 304-777-7642
  • Counties of Monongalia and Preston | JD Wilson – 304-919-0234
  • Counties of Barbour, Harrison and Upshur | Steve Perdue – 304-203-8744

Zone 4

  • Counties of Richie, Wirt, Wood and Pleasants | Andrew Stump – 304-991-6890
  • Counties of Kanawha and Putnam  | John Epperly – 304-747-8032
  • Counties of Mason, Jackson and Roane | Dave Martin – 304-532-2842

Zone 5 

  • Counties of Fayette, Raleigh, Summers, Monroe, Mercer, Greenbrier, Wyoming and McDowell | Wayne Rebich – 304-890-3549

Zone 6 

  • Counties of Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln, Mingo and Logan | Vikki Tully – 1-304-928-4104