UE Local 170, the West Virginia Public Workers Union, has proposed the following bills and resolutions, expected to gain sponsorship and be introduced into the current Legislative session. They are:

  • Permitting public employees the right to collectively bargain, providing for an exclusive representative; providing a procedure; and setting forth matters subject to collective bargaining. (Similar to current House Bill 2350)
  • Granting all public employees and retirees a $1,000 per year permanent pay increase – in addition to any across-the-board, cost-of-living, or percentage salary increases that may be passed in any fiscal year. Also, the increase shall not be construed to prohibit raises based on merit, seniority, promotion, etc.
  • Prohibiting suspension without pay pending investigation, and requiring employers to annually disclose to employees the right to representation in disciplinary matters.
  • Increasing the annual and incremental salary raises from $60 to $100.
  • Establishing certain seniority rights for public employees.
  • Modifying the Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act for state hospitals.
  • Establishing the Mental Health Workers Bill of Rights.
  • Allowing sick leave donations to fellow employees.
  • Eliminating the “non-disciplinary suspension” from the Division of Personnel administrative rules.
  • Requiring the DHHR and Bureau of Public Heath to prepare a report regarding the costs of state hospital hiring practices for the last three fiscal years.
  • Requiring the Division of Personnel to submit a special report to the Legislature by September 30, 2020, regarding classification and compensation section activities, a report on administrative appeals of actions by the division and a report on the specific nature of intervention by the division in grievance and settlement activities.
  • Concurrent resolutions requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study workplace safety for employees at state hospitals.

Current bills and resolutions pending that may affect UE Local 170 members, active and retired, with committee assignments:

  •  (Negative legislation!) Senate Joint Resolution 8, amendment to the West Virginia Constitution, phasing out the inventory tax on tangible manufacturing inventory, machinery, and equipment personal property. The amendment does provide for an unspecified “item of appropriation for replacement revenue, rising to $100 million by fiscal year 2025-26.
  • (Negative legislation!) HB 4043, preventing state, county, and municipal agencies from covering any portions of PEIA for spouses. (Committee on Banking and Insurance)
  • House Bill 2053, providing that state retirees’ insurance benefits be restored to 2015 levels. (House Pensions and Retirement)
  • HB 2104, increasing benefit to state retirees by 5% for the next 3 years. (House Pensions and Retirement)
  • HB 2130 and 2650, establishing seniority rights for public employees. (House Government Organization)
  • HB 2132, raising the amount of annual and incremental salary increases for eligible employees from $60 to $100; and changing eligibility from three years of service to one.
  • HB 2207, requiring that a state employee with a commercial driver’s license have a current medical evaluation certification. (Technology and Infrastructure)
  • HB 2308, Katherine Johnson Fair Pay Act of 2019;  the bill makes it an unlawful discriminatory practice for an employer to make a condition of employment, or to prohibit an employee from disclosing information about his or her wages, benefits, or other compensation, or sharing information regarding any other employee’s wages, benefits, or other compensation. The bill also limits employers’ inquiry into a job applicant’s wage and salary history.
  • HB 2347, providing long-term care and substance abuse treatment.
  • HB 2350, permitting public employees the right to collectively bargain. (House Industry and Labor)
  • HB 2372, 2580 and 2748, continuing and/or increasing the exclusion of pension income from state income tax. (House Pensions and Retirement)
  • HB 2381, Exempting certain contracts between the DHHR and West Virginia University, Marshall University or the School for Osteopathic Medicine from state purchasing requirements. (Education)
  • HB 2463, increasing the state minimum wage based upon increases in the Consumer Price Index. (House Industry and Labor)
  • HB 2491, providing regional field employees of the DOH increases in annual pay. (Finance)
  • HB 2575, freezing PEIA employee premiums for three years. (Committee on Banking and Insurance)
  • HB 2577, authorizing insurance to married workers without children at reduced rates under the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Act. (Banking and Insurance)
  • HB 2776, providing a one-time, 3% supplement to PERS and teacher retirees when they reach the age of 70. (House Pensions and Retirement)
  • HB 2871, increasing the state minimum wage gradually to $12 by 2023. (House Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development)
  • HB 3030, pertaining to the West Virginia Public Employees Retirement Act. In summary, the bill’s purpose is to allow purchase of retroactive service credit, for periods of employment in which contributions were not deducted from the employee’s pay, in installments rather than in a lump sum under the West Virginia Public Employees Retirement Act. (House Pensions and Retirement)
  • HB 4068, increasing the state minimum wage gradually to $15 by 2025. (House Industry and Labor)
  • HB 4128, modernize the job classification of child protective caseworkers. (Health and Human Resources)
  • HB 4291, relating to qualifications for a provisional license to practice as a social worker. (Passed Health and Human Resources; sent to Judiciary)
  • SB 31, opens an enrollment period of 11 months in which certain members of the Public Employees Retirement System can purchase previously forfeited service credit. (Passed Committee on Pensions, now in Finance Committee)
  • SB 37, providing long-term care and substance abuse treatment. (Human Health and Resources)
  • SB 117, providing $1,000 cost-of-living adjustment to certain Public Employees Retirement System retirees and teacher retirees. (Pensions)
  • SB 146, establishing minimum monthly retirement annuity for retirants with 20 or more years of credited service. (Pensions)
  • SB 178, similar to SB 31.
  • SB 217, requiring DHHR to collaborate with Workforce Development Board and Division of Personnel for job placement. (Passed Senate Jan. 21; in House Health and Human Resources)
  • SB 238, making state’s whistleblower law applicable to private employment sector. (Workforce Committee)
  • SB 559, authorizing small private employers buy in to PEIA. (Banking and Insurance)