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Appalshop: Appalachian Flood Support Resources

In February 2025, Eastern Kentucky experienced another catastrophic flood. We are updating this page, originally made for the 2022 floods, to share resources and means of support to aid the recovery process. 

Below are clean-up resources and ways for folks to make financial donations that will continue to help those in need as we go through the long path to recovery.  

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Special Report: Project 2025 and Unions

Trump’s Project 2025 is the 920-page document, written by at least 140 Trump advisers and former (and likely future) leaders in the Trump administration, that spells out what they plan to do during a Trump second term.

Read more about the anti-worker Project 2025

Labor History in 2:00 

April 1 “The Promise of 1946” | Labor History in 2:00On this day in labor history, the year was 1946. That was the day 400,000 bituminous coal miners walked off the job in 26 states. They demanded higher wages, better health benefits and safety regulations. The strike began to cripple industrial operations nationwide. By May 22, President Truman seized the mines. Miners returned to work a week later. John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers, signed an agreement with Secretary of the Interior, Julius Krug. It included $wage increases and vacation pay, the five day workweek and contributions to a retirement fund. The strike led to “The Promise of 1946,” otherwise known as the Krug-Lewis Agreement.  It created the UMWA Health and Retirement Funds. It is this fund that is often referred to in present day discussion concerning the loss of retiree health and pension benefits. According to Robert Hartley and David Kenney, authors of Death Underground: The Centralia and West Frankfort Mine Disasters, “the welfare program was to provide medical care, rehabilitation treatment and death benefits. It provided the authority for the Director of the U.S. Bureau of Mines to establish a Federal Mine Safety Code… to enforce mine safety regulations and provided the first legal authority for federal inspectors to close mines found to be dangerous.” Lack of enforcement would prove deadly for miners in Centralia and West Frankfort. The Health and Welfare Funds, however, provided relief and security for miners for decades. But in recent years, many companies have gone out of business and found legal loopholes to shed their retirement responsibilities. Those miners affected are today fighting for the passage of the Miners Protection Act, which would provide access and funding to shore up the pension plan.  
April 2 Trouble in the Sweetest Place on Earth | Labor History in 2:00On this day in labor history, the year was 1937. That was the day workers sat down at the Hershey chocolate plant in Hershey, Pennsylvania. CIO organizers for the new United Chocolate Workers Union reported that anywhere from 2000-2400 workers were on strike. Hershey was a company town, where streets were named Chocolate and Cocoa Avenue. Housing was built for workers and the company funded public education and transit service. But the company also sought to monitor and control workers behavior on their off-time and showed favoritism in hiring and wages. The Great Depression created dire conditions even in Candy Land. Hours and bonuses had been cut. Workers grew increasingly frustrated with production speed-up and unpredictable work schedules. All while Hershey still drew handsome profits. The company initially raised wages after meeting with the union but then laid off organizers three months later. That’s when workers shut off their machines and occupied the plant. The company refused to negotiate unless workers left. By April 7, dairy farmers became incensed at the loss of income. They mobilized with anti-union company forces to storm the factory and drive the strikers out. Organizers had agreed to end the strike in order to resume negotiations and avert violence. But the anti-union forces attacked the sit-downers with bats, whips, clubs and hammers. Three CIO organizers were singled out and severely beaten. Governor George Earle condemned the attack and blamed the County Sheriff for suppressing labor rather than preventing mob rule. The strike was smashed. Attempts at installing a company union failed soon after. Hershey’s would be one of the first candy companies to be organized when the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union won recognition two years later. 

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