Press Release

Dec. 13, 2002 

Contact:
Teddy Hapney, United Mine Workers of America at 304-925-6917
Marcia Leitch, Interfaith Global Climate Change Campaign at 304-466-0982
Steve White, Affiliated Construction Trades at 304-345-7570
Janet Fout, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition at 304-522-0246
Freda Williams, Coal River Mountain Watch at 304-854-2182
Carol Warren, Justice and Life Office, Diocese of Wheeling Charleston at 304-343-3360

Unions, Faith Groups and Enviros to Work on Common Goals during Session
Overweight Coal Trucks Sure to be Uniting Issue for Diverse Groups

CHARLESTON, W.VA. Coal miners were among the first West Virginians to understand the power of organizing and uniting workers. Environmentalists have borrowed organizing tactics from unions. Even so, unions and environmental groups are often assumed to be at odds with one anothers goals.

Leaders of labor, faith community and environmental groups met here Thursday (Dec. 12) to set about overturning that assumption.

We proved in summer what these diverse groups can do when we unite for a common goal. I think many legislators where stunned when the public spoke up so fiercely in opposition to increasing coal truck weights, said Delegate Mike Caputo (D-Marion), who is also West Virginia COMPAC coordinator for the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). We will certainly work together again on this issue and we are looking for common goals in other areas.

Caputo was one of two UMWA representatives at Thursdays meeting. Also attending the meeting were representatives of the Affiliated Construction Trades, Coal River Mountain Watch, Citizens Coal Council, Interfaith Global Climate Change Campaign, Justice and Life Office of the Diocese of Wheeling Charleston, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, West Virginia Citizen Action Group and West Virginia Rivers Coalition. The groups will meet again before and during the legislative session, which begins in January.

We have agreed to try to work together, for the mutual benefit of our members, said Janet Fout, co-director of the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition. Even though there are powerful interests that are attempting to paint us as adversarial, its obvious that labor, environmental organizations and the faith community have many common visions for improving the quality of life for everyone in West Virginia.

Certainly, environmental and labor groups share many of the ideals that the faith community seeks to advance, said Interfaith Global Climate Change Campaign coordinator Marcia Leitch, coordinator. We are working for justice and the equitable sharing of resources. For the faith community, that means caring for all of Creation.

It's great that labor and the environmental community are sitting down to discuss common ground and issues. We have a lot more in common than we do separating us, and this relationship will be a good development for West Virginians, said Jeremy Muller, director of the West Virginia Rivers Coalition.

We certainly wont see eye to eye on every single issue, but when we unite on common issues, we can make great progress, said Freda Williams, a member of Coal River Mountain Watch.