Tom Rule of “When Miners March” and Bill Ramsey
Sept. 1, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bill Ramsey
304-623-3284
Celebrations, poster contest mark
state’s first Labor History Week
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – This year, Labor Day gets an added boost in the form of the newly designated annual Labor History Week. The event will be marked by statewide celebrations as well as a poster contest for students.
In March, the West Virginia Legislature passed a resolution designating the week following Labor Day as Labor History Week, said Kelley Goes, West Virginia Secretary of Commerce.
“Some of the most significant labor events in the history of the United States happened in West Virginia,” Goes said. “It is fitting that we set aside time to honor the historical achievements of our hardworking and dedicated labor force.”
Labor History Week was created with the intent to provide people with the opportunity to learn about these achievements and about important issues such as collective bargaining and labor management relations, said Kenny Perdue of the West Virginia AFL-CIO.
“Labor Day is an opportunity to remember the sacrifices and contributions that working men and women have made to the quality of life we enjoy today,” Perdue said. “Here in West Virginia, we have an even greater opportunity to honor workers, thanks to the resolution passed by the Legislature.”
Following is a sampling of some of the statewide celebrations planned in honor of Labor History Week. To find out if an event is happening near you, contact your local AFL-CIO office.
Whipple Country Store Labor Day Doin’s
Noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 4 at Whipple Country Store and Appalachian Heritage Museum, 7485 Okey L. Patterson Road (W.Va. 612) in Scarbro. The event will offer free food, music and complimentary tours of the museum.
62nd Paden City Labor Day Celebration
Sept. 4-6. Events include a 5K Fun Run, carnival rides, live music and a parade at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6. In addition, Paden City Volunteer Fire Department will host a fish fry at 1 p.m. Sunday and 2 p.m. Monday and an all-you-can-eat breakfast at 8 a.m. Monday.
Marion County AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic
Noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 5 at Hough Park (Mannington Fairgrounds), Mannington. The picnic will have food, soft drinks, live music, games for children, ice cream and more than $1,700 in door prizes. Special guest, UMWA International President Cecil Roberts, will speak at 2 p.m.
72nd Annual Labor Day Celebration and Picnic
Activities begin at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 6 at the John Slack Memorial Park in Racine.
“In the Company’s Hands”
7 p.m. Sept. 11 at the LaBelle Theater, 311 D St., South Charleston. This film focuses primarily on the struggle between miners and the oppressive reality of life in company towns where behavior was closely controlled by the mine owners.
Poster Contest
A group of educators, historians and union members have formed the West Virginia Labor History Week Coalition, which is sponsoring a Labor History Week Poster Contest for students in grades K-12. Cash prizes of $100 and $50 will be awarded to four first-place winners and four second-place winners, respectively. In addition, the teachers of all winners will receive cash for their classrooms. The deadline for submissions is Sept 17. For an application and contest rules, contact the West Virginia AFL-CIO at 304-344-3557.
“This coalition, which includes the West Virginia AFL-CIO, encourages everyone who works for a living to pause to honor workers even while we enjoy ourselves at parades and picnics, on Labor Day and throughout Labor History Week,” Perdue said.
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From: wvwrr8 at aol.com [mailto:wvwrr8@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 9:42 PM
To: Bond, Andrea B
Subject: Re: NEWS RELEASE: Celebrations, poster contest mark state’s first Labor History Week
Andrea,
I think the press release is terrific but we need to make a few corrections and additions.
In the section “Whipple Country Store”, it should read free food, music and complimentary tours of the museum.
In the section “62nd Payden City”, it should read and a parade at 1:00 PM, Monday, the 6th.
In the section “Mannington Picnic”, it should read Mannington, WV (Not Kingmont). Further, it should read, free food, soft drinks and ice cream. Live music, games for the children and more than $1,700. in door prizes.
I would like to add, if possible, another event that has been omitted. That is the 72nd Annual Labor Day Celebration and Picnic, September 6, 2010 at the John Slack Memorial Park in Racin, WV, activities begin at 11:30.
In the section about the movie, the correct title is “In the Company’s Hands”, (not “Even the Heavens Weep”), which is the lost Labor History film. The correct information about this film is: Most of the film focuses on the struggle between miners and the oppressive reality of life in company towns where all behavior was closely controlled by the mine owners.
In the section about the Poster contest, it should read ” A group of educators, historians and union members have formed the WV Labor History Week Coalition, which is sponsoring a Labor History Week Poster Contest for students K-12″. (This would be the only time that the official name of the group is mentioned).
If we can make these changes, all the information will be correct and complete without any ambiguity.
Dianne and I will be leaving to go to Morgantown at 8:00 AM, Wednesday, Sept. 1, to tour the WWII B-17 bomber, Sentimental Journey (only 1 of 10 that is still in existence), therefore, if you need any other information or further clarification, please feel free to call me on my cell phone, (304)203-5229.
Thank you for all your help and assistance,
Bill Ramsey, Chairman, WV Labor History Week Coalition
Aug. 31, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bill Ramsey
304-623-3284
Celebrations, poster contest mark state’s first Labor History Week
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – This year, Labor Day gets an added boost in the form of the newly designated annual Labor History Week. The event will be marked by statewide celebrations as well as a poster contest for students.
In March, the West Virginia Legislature passed a resolution designating the week following Labor Day as Labor History Week, said Kelley Goes, West Virginia Secretary of Commerce.
“Some of the most significant labor events in the history of the United States happened in West Virginia,” Goes said. “It is fitting that we set aside time to honor the historical achievements of our hardworking and dedicated labor force.”
Labor History Week was created with the intent to provide people with the opportunity to learn about these achievements and about important issues such as collective bargaining and labor management relations, said Kenny Perdue of the West Virginia AFL-CIO.
“Labor Day is an opportunity to remember the sacrifices and contributions that working men and women have made to the quality of life we enjoy today,” Perdue said. “Here in West Virginia, we have an even greater opportunity to honor workers, thanks to the resolution passed by the Legislature.”
Following is a sampling of some of the statewide celebrations planned in honor of Labor History Week. To find out if an event is happening near you, contact your local AFL-CIO office.
Whipple Country Store Labor Day Doin’s
Noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 4 at Whipple Country Store and Appalachian Heritage Museum, 7485 Okey L. Patterson Road (W.Va. 612) in Scarbro. The event will offer food, music and complimentary tours of the museum.
62nd Paden City Labor Day Celebration
Sept. 4-6. Events include a 5K Fun Run, carnival rides, live music and a parade. Paden City Volunteer Fire Department will host a fish fry at 1 p.m. Sunday and 2 p.m. Monday and an all-you-can-eat breakfast at 8 a.m. Monday.
Marion County AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic
Noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 5 at Hough Park (Mannington Fairgrounds), Kingmont. The picnic will have food, soft drinks, live music, games for children, ice cream and more than $1,700 in door prizes. Special guest, UMWA International President Cecil Roberts, will speak at 2 p.m.
“Even the Heavens Weep”
7 p.m. Sept. 11 at the LaBelle Theater, 311 D St., South Charleston. This is a “lost” labor history film about the southern West Virginia coal wars as shown in John Sayles’ “Matewan.”
Poster Contest
A new coalition of union members, educators and historians is sponsoring a Labor History Week poster contest for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Cash prizes of $100 and $50 will be awarded to four first-place winners and four second-place winners, respectively. In addition, the teachers of all winners will receive cash for their classrooms. The deadline for submissions is Sept 17. For an application and contest rules, contact the West Virginia AFL-CIO at 304-344-3557.
“This coalition, which includes the West Virginia AFL-CIO, encourages everyone who works for a living to pause to honor workers even while we enjoy ourselves at parades and picnics, on Labor Day and throughout Labor History Week,” Perdue said.
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