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Raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2025 will restore bargaining power to workers and support the pandemic recovery
WAGES HAVE BEEN STAGNANT FOR A DECADE Congress has failed for more than a decade to raise the federal minimum wage. While there have been some wage increases at the state and local level, the current federal minimum wage stands at $7.25. WORKER WAGES REMAIN AT 1963 LEVELS WHEN ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION In 1963, back when John Kennedy was president, the applicable minimum wage varied by industry between $1.00 and $1.25 per hour, and there ... Continue Reading »

How to Create Jobs for Young People in West Virginia
West Virginia is full of incredible outdoor adventure, beautiful mountains and endless opportunities. Recently, the Mountain State became home to the country’s 63rd national park: The New River Gorge. The sweeping vistas give way to hiking trails, blooming rhododendrons and some of the best whitewater rafting in the world. This new designation will bring in outside tourism at a scenic, federal property while providing an employment opportunity for locals – ... Continue Reading »

Federal Infrastructure Dollars Headed For West Virginia – Let’s Spend Wisely.
The word “infrastructure” is much in the news these days. The Biden administration has proposed a roughly $2 trillion plan for improving the nation’s infrastructure, in what is being called a “once-in-a-generation investment” in the United States. The plan would directly benefit West Virginia workers and mean more jobs for you, your friends, and the people in your community. Photo by Indira Tjokorda on Unsplash Some want a cheaper, scaled-down ... Continue Reading »

West Virginia’s Infrastructure Opportunity
Behind every great product or successful business is a solid foundation–a set of systems that ensures things run as smoothly as possible, much like infrastructure. A great restaurant, for example, may be a simple experience for a patron–book a reservation, arrive, dine, pay and leave. As you sit and enjoy your meal, unbeknownst to you (if you have never worked in the service industry), there is a well-oiled ... Continue Reading »

More Deaths Than Births In West Virginia

Young adults are the lifeblood of a state’s future—but what happens when that lifeblood runs dry?

It’s no secret that young people are leaving West Virginia. In fact, U.S. Census Bureau data confirms we’ve now lost a higher percentage of residents than any other state in the country. And with one of the highest numbers of elderly folks in the nation, we’ve ... Continue Reading »

Raising the Minimum Wage!
Here is an article from USA Today (Dated: December 31, 2020) where Twenty states are planning to raise their minimum wage in 2021 which may help struggling workers in an uncertain economy. —- Minimum wage set to rise in 20 states, 32 localities as growing number adopt $15 an hour With the COVID-19 pandemic raging, layoffs mounting and $2,000 stimulus checks for U.S. households looking highly uncertain, there couldn’t be a better time to bump ... Continue Reading »

Congressman David McKinley: “The repeal of prevailing wage rate was based on erroneous studies.”

Transcript

“The repeal of the prevailing wage rate was based on some erroneous studies, I believe. “The idea was sold…we’re going to be able to get five schools for the price of three. That simply hasn’t happened. “People in government make mistakes all the time. The strength is recognizing that after a few years, this didn’t work. We better revisit it and correct it, ... Continue Reading »

Congressman David McKinley: “Out of town contractors don’t benefit this community.”

Transcript

“Out-of-town contractors don’t benefit this community, don’t pay into the local tax base. They go home when their project’s finished. “I want you to imagine work being done by local people depositing money in the local banks. That money stays here. It doesn’t go to Columbus, Houston, Guatemala, “The sooner we can restore prevailing wage rate across West Virginia I think the better ... Continue Reading »

Congressman David McKinley: “I always used Prevailing Wage rate because I wanted skilled labor.”

Transcript

“The prevailing wage was set up years ago. I think it was the 30’s or the 40’s and what they were trying to do was establish a fair wage based on the average wage paid to people in certain classifications, whether a carpenter, electrician, a plumber, or a laborer. So they’re trying to establish something that was fair. “I always used prevailing wage rate because I ... Continue Reading »

The Step up for women program is helping to close the gender gap
In West Virginia, good-paying jobs are not plentiful. Add the gender wage gap that still exists for women overall, and the job market can look bleak for women in the Mountain State. The Step Up for Women Program from West Virginia’s Women Work organization aims to change that. Over this 12-week training course women learn the construction basics. And many SUFW program graduates continue their instruction through skilled construction ... Continue Reading »