01/10/2026
💛🖤BIG NEWS🖤💛
The West Virginia Mine Wars Museum is proud to announce that staff have unionized, becoming official members of the United Mine Workers of America!
A contract has been signed with the historic District 17 and Local Union 1440, whose union hall is mere blocks from the site of the Battle of Matewan and the Museum itself.
The strong membership of Local 1440 was an instigating factor in establishing the Museum in Matewan, with union members also becoming founding members helping us open our doors more than a decade ago. And since then members have contibuted to our mission in countless ways.
Staff will belong to District 17, a faction of the UMWA known for its legacy of militant labor history, playing a role in ending the “company town” and “mine guard” system as well as the site of countless strikes for better working conditions and benefits for miners across its five state radius. Battles fought inside this district have gone on to improve labor rights for workers nationally and internationally. ⛏️
Learn more ➡️ https://wvminewars.org/news/2026/1/9/weve-unionized
