Commentary:  Steve Roberts

Revitalization Package Needed

Saving jobs and turning around our economic ship of state imperative

The Dominion Post, September 4, 2004

Labor Day is a time to be thankful for our nation's workforce and to appreciate the blessings that come from good jobs. Jobs are key to meeting the needs of the people of our state. Employment provides West Virginians with an ability to earn a paycheck, provide for their families, own a home, purchase goods and services, buy a car and prepare for retirement.

However, just this past year, many areas have been hit hard by job cuts or business closures. And while our state has of late been adding jobs, many good-paying manufacturing and goods producing jobs are disappearing.

In the Northern Panhandle, families and businesses are struggling with the impact of the sale of Weirton Steel. Thousands are losing their jobs and thousands others are losing their retirement and health care coverages.

In the Kanawha Valley , the impact from the loss of employment also is being felt hard. Since January, the region has experienced a series of announcements about jobs and closures:

* Flexsys is closing -- 250 jobs;

* Mayflower/South Charleston Stamping lost a major contract -- 350 jobs to be lost;

* Chemical companies face stiff competition and must work to reduce costs to remain competitive.

The loss of these high-paying jobs has a "shockwave" effect. For each 100 jobs eliminated, the negative impact will be in the order of $4 million in lost household income.

Other businesses, particularly small ones, retailers and service providers, will see business decline as a result. This impact may be even more far-reaching since the prospects appear distant for these workers finding similar job opportunities and income.

Why is this happening and at this time? The answer is that West Virginia 's business community is being buffeted by many forces, and our state's laws are not helping. Forces include the need for increased profitability, cost-controls and productivity gains. These needs are more important than ever, given global competition.

How can West Virginia survive and get on a road to greater prosperity? The answer rests with how quickly our elected leaders change West Virginia 's anti-job laws that are making our businesses noncompetitive and "out of step" with those in nearly every other state.

West Virginia needs an economic revitalization package that solves these problems: Civil justice reform; Workers' Compensation; unemployment compensation; commercial liability insurance; taxation; and permitting.

This situation is so pressing we must act now to make West Virginia more competitive. There is no time to spare.

We must act to resolve the problems and ease the burdens facing our business community. West Virginia can and will be a better place to live once our state joins the mainstream by improving its business climate.

STEVE ROBERTS is president of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. This commentary should be considered another point of view and not necessarily the opinion or editorial policy of The Dominion Post.