West Virginia Passes Right-to-Work – YES West Virginia did!

West Virginia will become a right-to-work state on July 1, 2016, and the state’s prevailing wage will be repealed 90 days from when the bill is enrolled, sometime in mid-May.

The state Senate voted 18-16, along party lines, to override Tomblin’s veto of right-to-work legislation (SB 1) and his veto of a bill to repeal the state’s prevailing wage law (HB 4005). Every Republican voted in favor of overriding the governor’s vetoes and every Democrat voted against.

The House of Delegates voted 55-43, with solely Republican support, to override the prevailing wage veto and 54-43, again with solely GOP support, to override the right-to-work veto. On both measures, eight Republicans voted with Democrats to uphold the vetoes.

The West Virginia Constitution requires only a majority in each chamber to override a veto.

I am a bit breathless that West Virginia – Wild Wonderful West Virginia – will become a Right-To-Work state.  I think it is safe to say this is very unexpected.  This is not an anti-union position.  I am told that my grandfather George Wesley Hobbs (also was elected to the Auburndale City Council) started a local of the bricklayers union in Florida.  Rather, Right to Work ought to be a Constitutional Right.