[CHARLESTON, W.V.] The West Virginia State Council of COMPAC, the United Mine Workers of America’s (UMWA) political arm, yesterday voted unanimously to withdraw the organization’s endorsement of Justice John Hutchison for a seat on the West Virginia Court of Appeals.
“Since 1890, the core principles of the UMWA have always been to fight for workers’ rights to safe and healthy jobs; to be paid a fair and living wage; to be treated equally no matter their race, creed, gender, faith or color; to speak out on the job without fear of retribution; and to be able to hold their jobs free of favoritism from their employer,” UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said. “So-called ‘Right to Work’ laws, born from racism and discrimination, are a frontal attack on all those principles.
“The West Virginia state legislators who passed this law and the Justices of the West Virginia Court of Appeals who upheld it clearly do not share our principles,” Roberts said. “They do not think workers should have those rights. We cannot and will not support officeholders at any level of government who believe that.”
The union today sent a letter to the Hutchison campaign, asking for its donation to be returned.
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