HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 58
(By Delegates M. Poling, Paxton, Fragale, Perry,
Shaver, Stowers, D. Walker, Pethtel, Smith,
Lawrence and Moye)
[Originating in the Committee on Education]
(February 16, 2010)
Expressing the sense of the Legislature that designating the
annual observance of the week following the Labor Day
Holiday as Labor History Week for the State of West Virginia
will increase the awareness and understanding of labor
history and the contributions of workers to the state,
nation and world.
Whereas, According to the United States Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, one hundred twelve thousand
West Virginians were represented by unions; and
Whereas, Some of the most significant labor events in the
history of the United States happened in West Virginia and our
state has a rich labor history; and
Whereas, The first Monday in September is recognized
nationally and in our state as the Labor Day Holiday; and
Whereas, By designating the week following the Labor Day
Holiday as Labor History Week, students and the public will have the opportunity to learn about labor history, collective
bargaining, labor management relations and the contributions that
workers have made to society and the workplace; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature requests that the week following the
Labor Day Holiday be annually designated and observed as Labor
History Week for the State of West Virginia; and be it
Further Resolved, That in recognition of and to further the
purposes of Labor History Week, each public school is encouraged
to provide instruction during Labor History Week on labor history
including the events and timeliness of the development of
workers' rights, the contributions of specific workers, political
leaders, workers' rights advocates, unions and union leaders, and
labor management relations and collective bargaining; and be it
Further Resolved, That school administrators and teachers
have flexibility in designing and implementing labor history
instruction on these topics by integrating them into the existing
school curriculum, holding school assemblies, inviting guest
speakers or providing other school activities; and, be it
Further Resolved, That state institutions of higher
education are encouraged to conduct and promote activities that
provide education, awareness and understanding of labor history;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That recognized resources for information, materials and speakers regarding labor history that may assist
with activities in the observance of Labor History Week include,
but are not limited to:
(1) The West Virginia Labor History Association;
(2) The West Virginia University Extension Service Institute
for Labor Studies and Research;
(3) Labor management relations professors at higher
education institutions;
(4) West Virginia Humanities Council;
(5) West Virginia Historical Society;
(6) West Virginia Division of Culture and History; and
(7) The West Virginia State American Federation of Labor and
Congress of Industrial Organizations (WV AFL-CIO); and, be it
Further Resolved, That the observance of Labor History Week
is not intended to create a burden, financial or otherwise, for
public schools, teachers or state institutions of higher
education; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward one
copy each of this resolution to the Governor, the State
Superintendent of Schools and the respective Chancellors of the
Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community
and Technical College Education.