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Union leaders connected to the elimination of 70 jobs in Dominion's Clarksburg office are angry, after an announcement this
week.
"It's a disgrace that will have a devastating impact on the families, communities and economy of Clarksburg and the entire
central West Virginia area," Utility Workers of America Local 69 President Charlie Rittenhouse summed up his opinion of
the recent announcement by Dominion to eliminate 70 jobs in the downtown Clarksburg area and move the work to
Richmond, Virginia.
"Let me take off my union hat for just a moment, because this decision hurts more than just union
workers. By Dominion making this decision, seventy families' futures are in shambles. Seventy families, most of which
have lived in the Clarksburg area for generations, will face uprooting or unemployment," said Rittenhouse.
On the economic
side, central West Virginia will see over $3,000,000 in wages disappear from the
hands of those shopping in stores. The impact on the tax base will be considerable.
"And for what? Greed!" said the local president.
Gary Sypolt, President of Dominion Transmission announced Tuesday that their decision on Monday to close departments
in Dominion's downtown Clarksburg office and move the work to Richmond provided Dominion an opportunity for
better operations and efficiencies.
The union has vowed to challenge the move.
"How much does Dominion expect the people of West Virginia to sacrifice? I wonder if all the legislators, elected officials
and business people who
ignored our pleas and warnings , who have honored Dominion and its leaders as good community partners, still feel that way
now?"
"I wonder if any
of them are going to offer their help to our families, communities in our efforts, or at the least protest to Dominion? I
guess we'll see, won't we," Rittenhouse went on to say.
President Rittenhouse was asked if he thought this was
the end of the job reductions. "Dominion has never stopped reducing the jobs in central West Virginia since
they acquired us. We tried to tell people this, but it was easer to label us as radicals and look at Dominion as the good
guys.
Dominion has no problem hitting the delete button," he concluded.
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