The WV Mountain Party — also known as the WV Workers’ Party — proudly stands in solidarity with the Habilitation Specialists at Northwood Health Systems’ Wetzel County facility as they take a courageous step towards forming an independent union. We are especially proud that our party’s own Chair, Dylan Parsons, is also a leader in this effort, serving as one of the union’s organizers.
Dylan emphasized, “We’re fighting for a seat at the table and a voice in the decisions that impact our lives. While we appreciate upper management’s willingness to listen to our concerns, we believe it’s essential to have a formal say in our wages, benefits, and working conditions.”
As habilitation specialists, these dedicated professionals support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in learning vital independent living skills. They rely partially on state funding from the IDD waiver program for their wages. In response to the workforce crisis in the IDD program, Governor Justice recently announced a 15% increase in IDD waiver rates starting October 1. However, Mountain Party candidate for governor Chase Linko-Looper noted, “While this increase is a step in the right direction, it’s merely a temporary solution. As governor, I would prioritize full funding for the IDD waiver program, livable wages, and meaningful support for these critical services.”
Our party’s platform is committed to disability rights, including full funding for residential and community-based services, clearing the IDD Waiver wait list, and ensuring living wages for all workers in the disability care field. We also advocate for the repeal of ‘right-to-work’ laws, recognizing unions based on cards signed, and protecting every West Virginia worker’s right to form a union, organize, bargain, strike, elect supervisors, and take peaceful job actions.
We wholeheartedly support the workers’ demands for higher wages, better benefits, and improved working hours. We also recognize the inherent social and economic value of caregiving work and other forms of labor that are often undervalued and undercompensated.
We commend the workers and our Chair for their courage and determination and pledge to continue fighting for economic justice and workers’ rights in West Virginia. We urge Northwood Health Systems to engage in good faith negotiations and ensure fair wages and benefits for their workers.
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