Recent Press

CHARLESTON – With minimal discussion, the Senate today has adopted legislation making 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 bill was passed in conjunction with a $2,300 across-the-board pay raise for some public employees that in all likelihood will be consumed by the increased new insurance costs.

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.

bowenMembers of the media are invited to attend the Celebration of Life ceremony for former West Virginia AFL-CIO President Jim Bowen, who dedicated his life and career to the betterment of working men and women across the state of West Virginia.

Jim served as president of the WV AFL-CIO from 1997 to 2004.

The celebration, which will include tributes from a host of labor leaders from throughout the state, will takeplace from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, at Four Points Sheraton, 600 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston.

The following is a statement from WV AFL-CIO Vice President, longtime UMWA representative, and state Senator Mike Caputo regarding the passing of former WV AFL-CIO President Jim Bowen:

“The world is a better place because of Jim Bowen’s efforts for working people across West Virginia and theentire United States,” Caputo said. “Every day, whether it was on the picket lines at the steel mills and coal mines or in the halls of the Capitol, if it was your fight, it was Jim’s fight. He always put himself before others, and led by example.

“Jim’s passing leaves a tremendous hole in our hearts, and I will dearly miss his friendship, but he will continue to inspire all of us in the labor movement here in West Virginia and beyond to fight even harder to give working families a better way of life. He would expect no less.” 

Former West Virginia AFL-CIO President Jim Bowen, who dedicated his life and career to the betterment of working men and women across the state of West Virginia and the entire country, passed away today at the age of 87.

“I struggle to put into words how important Jim Bowen has been to the labor movement here in West Virginia,”said WV AFL-CIO President Josh Sword. “He was a mentor to me and so many others who strive to help workers secure good paying, safe jobs and have a powerful voice in the workplace.”