Welcome to UE Local 170
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UE Local 170, West Virginia Public Workers Union, is a member-run organization made up of over a thousand state workers. We are public workers at the state hospitals, Division of Highways, Department of Health and Human Resources, Parkways, Capitol Complex and many other state agencies.
Our members are organizing at over 130 workplaces across the state. With every new member, our fight for better jobs and conditions for public workers gets stronger. UE Local 170 is a member-run organization. Members form local union chapters which unite workers in your workplace or area to address common issues. Members elect chapter officers and stewards to meet with management on issues which concern you.
Two UE Local 170 Supported Bills Pass Out of Their House of Origin Before "Crossover Day" Cut-Off - Your Action Needed
Two UE Local 170 supported bills dealing with the West Virginia public employee grievance process passed out of their house of origin before "Crossover Day" cut-off and were sent to other legislative body to await action. Any bills that did not make it out of their house of origin before "Crossover Day" (April 3) are dead for this legislative session. All bills must pass both bodies of the legislature by April 13, the last day of the session.
House Bill 2570 - the grievance statute reform bill - passed the House by a vote 97 to 2. H.B. 2570 was sent over to the Senate and was assigned to the Senate Government Organization Committee. Please call Senator Herb Snyder, Chair of the Senate Government Organization Committee, at 304-357-7957 and ask that he place H.B. 2570 on the committee's agenda. Please contact members of the Senate Government Organization Committee and ask that they support H.B. 2570. Follow this link for a list of committee's members: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/committees/senate/SenateCommittee.cfm?Chart=govo
H.B. 2570 strengthens a WV public employee's right to discovery requests for grievance proceedings; requires agencies to allow reasonable time for representatives to appear; clarifies that participation in grievance proceedings is considered work time; and adds dismissal as a possible disciplinary action against any supervisor who retaliates against any participant in the grievance proceedings.
Senate Bill 347 - which requires the Grievance Board to provide trainings to level one hearing examiners - passed the Senate by a vote of 34 to 0. S.B. 347 was sent over to the House and assigned to the House Government Organization Committee. Please call Delegate Jim Morgan, Chair of the House Government Organization Committee, at 304-340-3192 and ask that he place S.B. 347 on the committee's agenda. Please contact members of the House Government Organization Committee and ask that they support S.B. 347. Follow this link for a list of the committee's members: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/committees/house/HouseCommittee.cfm?Chart=go
S.B. 347 requires the Public Employees Grievance Board - in conjunction with the Division of Personnel - to provide trainings for level one hearing examiners, and training requirements for hearing examiners.\
UE Local 170's Seventh Annual Presidents' Day Rally
UE Local 170 members and supporters gathered at the State Capitol in Charleston for our seventh annual Presidents Day Rally. Members rallied in support of UE Local 170's 2013 legislative agenda, which includes a pay raise for state workers, reform of the WV public employees' grievance statute, seniority rights for state workers, and more funding for WV OSHA.
Members also spoke out in favor of reasonable caseload standards for DHHR employees and better working conditions for employees who work at the state hospitals and nursing homes. The rally received media coverage across the state, including a news story in The Charleston Gazette, which you can read here. You can also view pics of the rally here.
Members also spoke out in favor of reasonable caseload standards for DHHR employees and better working conditions for employees who work at the state hospitals and nursing homes. The rally received media coverage across the state, including a news story in The Charleston Gazette, which you can read here. You can also view pics of the rally here.
UE Local 170 Chief Steward Jamie Beaton Attends Tri-National Organizers Institute in Mexico City
UE Local 170 Chief Steward Jamie Beaton attended a tri-national organizers institute in Mexico City from February 16 - 24. The Organizers Institute brought together union activists from the UE, the Authentic Workers Front (FAT) of Mexico and the National Confederation of Unions (CSN) of Quebec, Canada. Full story
Consideration of Seniority Needed
"From the vantage point of a state employee, the current attempt to eradicate consideration of seniority from public school employment is both familiar and saddening," says UE Field Organizer Gordon Simmons in an Op/Ed which appeared in The Charleston Gazette earlier this month on the need for seniority rights for West Virginia state workers. You can read the entire Op/Ed here.
Did You Receive Your Fall-Winter 2012-2013 UE Local 170 Newsletter?
The Fall-WInter 2012/13 UE Local 170 Newsletter was mailed to all our members in mid-December. If you didn't receive your newsletter, you can download a copy here.
