Category: Resolutions

March 23, 2021 – State Executive Committee

A Resolution in Support for OVEC Unionization

WHEREAS, the employed majority of the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC) has voted to form a union under the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) to advocate for improved workplace conditions;

WHEREAS, workers of the OVEC Union have requested voluntary recognition by the OVEC Board of Directors on March 4, 2021;

WHEREAS, workers demand a standardized pay scale and an equal discipline policy in the workplace;

WHEREAS, workers demand union representation at any meeting affecting their terms of employment; 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party maintains the position that environmental justice cannot be achieved without also having economic justice, racial justice, and social justice;

BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party recognizes OVEC workers’ victories for environmental justice in Appalachia; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party hereby unequivocally supports the rights of these workers to unionize at their workplace and collectively bargain.

October 7, 2020 – State Executive Committee

A Resolution in Support for Kroger Workers of UFCW Local 400

WHEREAS, over 250 grocery workers, meatpacking workers, and food processing workers of the UFCW have died due to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, over 36,000 of the aforementioned workers have been infected or exposed to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, Kroger has managed to profit during this pandemic, yet is demanding cuts in employee healthcare benefits, a stop to pay raises, and a change in seniority rights for the majority of experienced employees for its new contract with the UFCW Local 400; and

WHEREAS, Kroger’s essential workers have been on the frontlines of this global pandemic, placing themselves and their families at risk in order to keep these stores operating;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party hereby unequivocally supports the rights of these workers to engage in civil disobedience that directly impacts their employer’s ability to continue to profit off their labor; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party stands in full support with a worker’s right to unionize at their workplace; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party supports demands for hazard pay, a national mask mandate, and increased safety standards for work environments.

May 17, 2020 – State Executive Committee

A Resolution in Opposition to Gov. Justice’s Response To COVID-19

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization since March 11, 2020;

WHEREAS, the State of West Virginia has a disproportionately higher proportion of at risk individuals among its population, primarily the elderly and immune-compromised, compared to the other States of our Union;

WHEREAS, a lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), a lack of testing, and a lack of contact tracing have all led to an increase in the number of cases; and

WHEREAS, essential workers have not been justly compensated for work environment hazards, and many non-essential workers have become unemployed and are faced with an insecure financial future;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party stands in full support with a worker’s right to a reasonably safe workplace and be compensated with appropriate hazard pay should they face the risk of potential workplace exposure; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party advocates for the general welfare of the people by means of adequate financial assistance to the unemployed and working-class families, during this time of crisis and insecurity;

BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party opposes Governor Jim Justice’s plan to reopen the economy of West Virginia, until such time that competent medical authorities deem the threat has passed.

September 29, 2019 – State Executive Committee

A Resolution of Support for UAW Workers

WHEREAS, the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) membership is on strike in response to worker conditions in General Motors, et al., since September 16, 2019;

WHEREAS, workers have lacked job security and struggled financially, leading many to have trouble paying their mortgages, electrical bills, and groceries; and

WHEREAS, workers have taken a stand, limiting production and transportation of cars from making their regularly-scheduled deliveries;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party hereby unequivocally supports the rights of these workers to engage in civil disobedience that directly impacts their employer’s ability to continue to profit off their labor; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party stands in full support with a worker’s right to unionize at their workplace; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party endorses projects of mutual aid to offset the expenses of General Motors, et al., employees.

August 4, 2019 – State Executive Committee

A Resolution of Support for Laid Off Blackjewel Miners

WHEREAS, the Blackjewel coal company has filed for bankruptcy on July 1, 2019; and

WHEREAS, former employees of Blackjewel have struggled financially with recoupment of weeks’ worth of back pay, leading many to have trouble paying their mortgages, electrical bills, and groceries; and

WHEREAS, Blackjewel, as every other mining company in Kentucky is presently, is a non-union company; and

WHEREAS, former employees of Blackjewel have inspired the nation by blockading railroad tracks, preventing coal cars from making their regularly-scheduled deliveries; and

WHEREAS, former CEO Jeff Hoops has been forced to resign in Blackjewel’s bankruptcy deal, yet this has not dissuaded him from building a $30 million resort in Cabell County;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party hereby unequivocally supports the rights of these workers to engage in civil disobedience that directly impacts their former employer’s ability to continue to profit off their labor; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party stands in full support with a worker’s right to unionize at their workplace; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the West Virginia Mountain Party endorses projects of mutual aid to offset the expenses of Blackjewel’s former employees.