Political Action Pays Off For W.Va. State Workers

Usually when state employees rally in the state capital, they want something. But recently more than 30 correctional officers and nonuniformed support staff turned out in Charleston, W. Va., just to say "thank you" to a governor and legislature that gave them much-needed raises and a stronger voice at work.

Governor Joe Manchin spoke individually with several CWA Local 2055 members at the rally.

"The state's government employees are one of the largest, most important investments that we make as an administration and as taxpayers," Manchin said. "It's crucial that we work together to develop a state employee management system and a compensation system that are fair and balanced."

Because they don't have collective bargaining, CWA Local 2055 corrections workers and Local 2019 state troopers went to the capital at the beginning of the legislative session in January to ask for raises. In 2004, they'd strongly backed Manchin's run for governor, making numerous phone calls and house visits. CWA's efforts helped elect Manchin and a Democratic majority in the state House, culminating in the appointment of Richard "Rick" Thompson, another friend of labor, as speaker.

Manchin immediately appointed CWA Representative Elaine Harris to his Commission on Public Sector Employment and Employee Relations, along with other labor leaders. And, based on the commission's recommendation, he announced the start of a pilot "meet-and-consult" process to give state employees a voice in improving working conditions and efficiency in the delivery of state services.

The meet-and-consult process, allowing workers to recommend changes in policies and programs, will cover CWA members at the Regional Jail and Correctional Facility and three other state government divisions where workers are represented by AFSCME and the Mine Workers. If successful, the experimental program will be expanded to other state agencies after two years.

Before the 2007 legislative session ended in March, Manchin signed a multi-year pay raise that lawmakers passed for 3,000 workers represented by Local 2055 in the state Divisions of Corrections, Regional Jails and Juvenile Services, sent to him by the legislature. The West Virginia Troopers Association, CWA Local 2019, won a similar multi-year raise for state troopers.

Becky Slayton, a Local 2055 steward at the Mt. Olive correctional facility, thanked the governor and legislators at the rally, saying the raises, "will definitely improve the workers' standard of living."

Jack Ferrell, Local 2055's full-time organizer, visits 32 work locations in rotation, making sure new employees know the value of belonging to the union. At a recent orientation for new workers at Mt. Olive he was able to sign up four of the five who were eligible.

"I think the pay raises made a big difference," he said.