Workers Mobilize for West Virginia 'Right to Work for Less' Fight

In West Virginia, Republican lawmakers wasted no time in attacking workers' rights, making a right-to-work-for-less bill the first measure introduced in the Senate as the state legislature opened on Jan. 13.

Union members from across the state greet West Virginia Governor Earl Tomblin (D) and state legislators making their way through the Capitol for the governor's "State of the State" address. Activists chanted "not in my state" and "right to work is wrong."

CWA activists joined thousands of union members from across the state, packing the state Capitol, with signs that read "Right to Work is Wrong for West Virginia" and "Stop the War on Working Families."

At a news conference, workers from Virginia and Oklahoma pointed out the truth about so-called "right to work" laws. Oklahoma, for example, passed a "right to work" law in 2001, and data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the number of manufacturing jobs in the state has fallen by a third. The number of new companies moving into the state has also has dropped by a third.

West Virginia AFL-CIO President Kenny Perdue said the anti-worker bill was "being pushed by out-of-state interests that have a complete disregard for our local economy, our rights, and the health and safety of the average West Virginian."

Read more here.

Watch some video of that demonstration here.