West Virginia IBEW Takes Fight to Anti-Labor Candidates
It was almost heaven a few weeks back for John Raese, a wealthy owner of steel, limestone and media companies in West Virginia. A perennial candidate for state and federal offices, Raese, a Republican, was running ahead of popular Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin in polling on the campaign to fill the seat of deceased Sen. Robert Byrd. Then Raese showed what he really thinks of West Virginians and their struggle to survive in the coal mining state.
First, word leaked that the National Republican Senatorial Committee had sent out a casting call for a Raese political ad asking for actors with “hicky” looks. Said Manchin, “John Raese thinks we’re hicks.” A video from the International Association of Firefighters takes on Raese’s lack of respect for West Virginians.
Then, Raese, who owns a mansion in Florida, told ABC News that he “absolutely” supports the abolition of the federal minimum wage. He told ABC:
It’s an archaic system that has never worked…It hasn’t solved any problems in 50 years.
Raese’s polling numbers have dropped. But Joe Samples, business manager of Charleston Local 466, isn’t taking anything for granted. Samples sent a letter to his members advising them that Raese was a longtime supporter of right-to-work laws. He wrote:
If right-to-work would ever pass in West Virginia, it would be devastating to union labor and would water down our ability to maintain a living wage and benefits.
Samples said he is doing everything he can to elect Joe Manchin and to re-elect Nick Rahall to Congress.
Rahall showed his support for the state’s workers in 2006 by helping pass a bill in Congress after the Sago mine tragedy. The legislation requires mines to have more oxygen to be available for trapped and escaping miners, mandates two-way telecommunications and tracking devices to be installed and for penalties to be enforced for safety violations.
Says Samples:
Nick Rahall stands by workers. His opponent, Spike Maynard stands by his friend Don Blankenship, CEO of Massey Energy.
Blankenship, an influential Republican contributor, tried to defend Massey’s poor safety record after 29 miners were killed in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine.
Addressing the West Virginia political contests, International President Edwin D. Hill says:
Two visions of America are coming through loud and clear in West Virginia. Joe Manchin and Nick Rahall know that all citizens benefit when workers are paid fair wages and work under safe conditions. John Raese and Spike Maynard would roll back decades of progress, hurting workers and their communities and leaving them at the mercy of the corporate bottom line.
Sen. Byrd’s Legacy on the Line in W.Va.
John Boyd, business representative, Charleston, W.Va., Local 466, knows that it will be difficult for anyone to fill the legendary shoes of Sen. Robert Byrd, who died in June at age 93 after 51 years in office. But Boyd says IBEW’s choice in this year’s election, Gov. Joe Manchin, shares Byrd’s deep respect for the working people in his state.
Boyd, a 12-year member, recalls the tough time nine unions had bargaining with CSX, owners of the exclusive, Greenbrier Resort, founded in 1778 in his native Mercer County. With CSX leaning toward declaring the Greenbrier bankrupt last year, Manchin supported the efforts of entrepreneur Jim Justice to purchase the resort and backed efforts to establish casino gambling there. Manchin then made sure that some of the casino’s profits would help save the health insurance and pensions of 1,700 workers there, including 11 IBEW members.
Dave Efaw, the former business manager of Local 466, now secretary-treasurer of the W. Va. State Building and Construction Trades, remembers Manchin first running for office without labor support. Today, says Efaw:
Manchin has an open door to unions. He has supported prevailing wages and has lobbied employers to give priority to state residents on their construction projects.
Before Manchin makes decisions on critical issues, says Efaw, “He invites unions in to tell him where he might be wrong.”
“Joe Manchin’s heart and soul are in West Virginia,” says Boyd, who is working with the Mercer County AFL-CIO to push their candidate over the top in November. He says:
The closer we can keep this election to the grassroots, the better chance we have.
The Mercer County AFL-CIO has reached out to activists and social leaders beyond the unions to build the Manchin campaign, passing out literature at the county fair in August and stepping up activities after Labor Day.
Manchin’s opponent, John Raese, a mining company owner, who also owns radio stations and newspapers, says Efaw, is “anti anything labor,” including prevailing wage legislation and supports right-to-work legislation.
Samples said he is doing everything he can to elect Joe Manchin and to re-elect Nick Rahall to Congress.
Boyd, a 12-year member, recalls the tough time nine unions had bargaining with CSX, owners of the exclusive, Greenbrier Resort, founded in 1778 in his native Mercer County. With CSX leaning toward declaring the Greenbrier bankrupt last year, Manchin supported the efforts of entrepreneur Jim Justice to purchase the resort and backed efforts to establish casino gambling there. Manchin then made sure that some of the casino’s profits would help save the health insurance and pensions of 1,700 workers there, including 11 IBEW members.
“Joe Manchin’s heart and soul are in West Virginia,” says Boyd, who is working with the Mercer County AFL-CIO to push their candidate over the top in November. He says:
