Labor Groups Met Saturday, July 17th, 10 am at Flatwoods
The West Virginia Labor History Association, The WVU Institute for Labor Studies, WV AFL-CIO and many labor union members met at 10 am on Saturday, July 17th, at the Flatwoods Days Inn to discuss programs on WV labor history. (State Journal story – online, print, and TV)
Last year the West Virginia Legislature passed a resolution making the week after Labor Day an official week to promote awareness of West Virginia’s landmark labor history.
Anyone in the state who is interested in being part of this planning process should attend the open meeting on Saturday or contact Steve Fesenmaier, mystery12 at suddenlink.net, WVLHA president Gordon Simmons at 304-395-6294. or Anthony Tambureno, WVU Institute for Labor Studies, AJTambureno at mail.wvu.edu.
LABOR HISTORY WEEK
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 58
Designating the week following Labor Day as the time to annually observe Labor History
By Delegates M. Poling, Paxton, Fragale, Perry, Shaver, Stowers, D. Walker, Pethtel, Smith,
Lawrence and Moye ▬ Originating in the Committee on Education – February 16, 2010 –
Completed Legislative Action March 10, 2010.
Expressing the sense of the Legislature that designating the annual observance of the week
following the Labor Day Holiday as Labor History Week for the State of West Virginia will
increase the awareness and understanding of labor history and the contributions of workers to the
state, nation and world.
Whereas, According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, in
2008, one hundred twelve thousand West Virginians were represented by unions; and
Whereas, Some of the most significant labor events in the history of the United States happened
in West Virginia and our state has a rich labor history; and
Whereas, The first Monday in September is recognized nationally and in our state as the Labor
Day Holiday; and
Whereas, By designating the week following the Labor Day Holiday as Labor History Week,
students and the public will have
the opportunity to learn about labor history, collective bargaining, labor management relations
and the contributions that workers have made to society and the workplace; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature requests that the week following the Labor Day Holiday be annually
designated and observed as Labor History Week for the State of West Virginia; and be it
Further Resolved, That in recognition of and to further the purposes of Labor History Week,
each public school is encouraged to provide instruction during Labor History Week on labor
history including the events and timeliness of the development of workers’ rights, the
contributions of specific workers, political leaders, workers’ rights advocates, unions and union
leaders, and labor management relations and collective bargaining; and be it
Further Resolved, That school administrators and teachers have flexibility in designing and
implementing labor history instruction on these topics by integrating them into the existing
school curriculum, holding school assemblies, inviting guest speakers or providing other school
activities; and, be it
Further Resolved, That state institutions of higher education are encouraged to conduct and
promote activities that provide education, awareness and understanding of labor history; and, be
it
Further Resolved, That recognized resources for information; materials and speakers regarding
labor history that may assist with activities in the observance of Labor History Week include, but
are not limited to:
(1) The West Virginia Labor History Association;
(2) The West Virginia University Extension Service Institute for Labor Studies and
Research;
(3) Labor management relations professors at higher education institutions;
(4) West Virginia Humanities Council;
(5) West Virginia Historical Society;
(6) West Virginia Division of Culture and History; and
(7) The West Virginia State American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial
Organizations (WV AFL-CIO); and, be it
Further Resolved, That the observance of Labor History Week is not intended to create a
burden, financial or otherwise, for public schools, teachers or state institutions of higher
education; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward one copy each of this resolution to the
Governor, the State Superintendent of Schools and the respective Chancellors of the Higher
Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical College Education.
Printed In House
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_H…
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