November 2011 - THE WETZEL CHRONICLE
ALSO:
2011 - CHARLSTON GAZETTE: Union says Marcellus jobs should go to W.Va. Workers
2014 - DOMINION ON JOBS
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November 2011 - THE WETZEL CHRONICLE
"How can it be that during the height of pipeline construction in Wetzel County, WV
in 2011 the county experienced it’s highest unemployment at 11.9% ?
In "Wetzel County has States's Highest Unemploymen Rate" by Ian Hick for
The Wetzel Chronicle on November 2, 2011 we read that:
The Wetzel Chronicle on November 2, 2011 we read that:
“Wetzel County had West Virginia's highest unemployment rate for September at 11.9 percent.”
“Wetzel County Commissioner Scott Lemley said he finds news of his county's dubious
distinction "very discouraging."
distinction "very discouraging."
“That part of the state is a hotbed of Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling activity, and
Lemley hopes the bevy of companies looking to cash in on the boom will begin hiring
more local labor to extract the resource from the ground.
Lemley hopes the bevy of companies looking to cash in on the boom will begin hiring
more local labor to extract the resource from the ground.
"That's a very controversial issue going on," Lemley said, citing television ads and yard signs urging drillers to hire locally. "I'd hope any industry involved with our natural resources would help reduce our unemployment rate."
The industry has drawn some criticism for using out-of-state labor,
but Lemley
acknowledged there's only so much government can do about it.
but Lemley
acknowledged there's only so much government can do about it.
"We can't control what private industry does. They have their own employment guidelines," he said.
This was SIX MONTHS after Paul Nyden explained n the Charleston Gazette on
May 24, 201 that Union says Marcellus jobs should go to W.Va. Workers stating:
“West Virginia construction workers are upset that Dominion Transmission has decided
to hire people from other states to work on pipelines to transmit natural gas from local
Marcellus Shale operations.
"Dominion hired Holloman Corp., based in Texas, to work on new pipelines in Wetzel
County in West Virginia. Instead of using local workers, Holloman is importing workers
from Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and Florida.
The Affiliated Construction Trades Foundation, which has supported Marcellus Shale
development as a promising source of jobs, has organized four protests in front of DominionTransmission facilities -- in Harrison, Wetzel, Marshall and Ohio counties.
Chuck Penn, media relations manager for Dominion in West Virginia, said on Tuesday,
"Dominion hires contractors that have the technical expertise and the experience to
perform the work we need to be done. The contractors in turn hire people who will
meet that end as well."
"But because of the specialized nature of our work, we have to insure we have contractors
in place who can perform work to our specifications. We need to have people in place that have experience and the technical expertise to perform the work."
Steve White, president of the ACT Foundation, said, "A lot of companies doing Marcellus
Shale exploration are from the TexasOklahoma area. And they bring in contractors
they have worked with."
"Out-of state workers don't have homes here. They don't pay taxes.
They spend a little money to buy local food. But the majority of their money
goes back to where they are from -- to Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana," Young said.
"It is amazing how many out-of state license plates you see in these areas,
working in remote areas. Very few local people get jobs."
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