Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, today issued the following statement regarding the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals’ decision to dissolve the preliminary injunction against the West Virginia Workplace Freedom Act:
“We sincerely appreciate the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals for its decision today to eliminate an unnecessary barrier to the implementation of West Virginia’s Workplace Freedom Act. For more than a year, the will and progress of our Legislature – and the majority of the citizens it represents – has been unreasonably denied. With the dismissal of this clearly erroneous preliminary injunction, West Virginia’s working men and women are finally free to exercise their constitutional right to choose whether they want union representation. Finally, the freedom to work and provide for one’s family is not beholden to a union membership card.
With this clear, unambiguous victory for democracy in hand, we encourage all job-creators, public servants, and other advocates for West Virginia to forcefully and enthusiastically take this message of workplace freedom across the country. Our neighboring state of Kentucky has been incredibly successful in attracting new jobs because of its recent adoption of right-to-work legislation. These are jobs that should be in West Virginia. We have already lost too many plentiful job opportunities. With this Supreme Court decision today, West Virginia can finally say that it is open for business. No longer should this state be passed over due to archaic labor laws.
Without question, West Virginians have incredible talent and ability. Providing our citizens with the freedom to work will revolutionize our economy. The work that the Legislature began in 2016 to make this great state a shining example of freedom has finally begun to pay off. We are incredibly confident that despite any legal challenges that remain, West Virginia is today, and will continue to be, a freedom-loving, right-to-work state.”