Photo by Eric Ayres A statue of union leader Walter Reuther watches over the Ohio River at Heritage Port in Wheeling. The contributions of Reuther and other labor leaders will be explored during the upcoming Reuther-Pollack Labor History Symposium on Sept. 4.

WHEELING — The Wheeling Academy of Law and Science (WALS) Foundation, through its Reuther-Wheeling Library and Labor History Archive, in partnership with Wheeling Heritage and the Ohio County Public Library, will offer the fifth annual Reuther-Pollack Labor History Symposium on Saturday, Sept. 4, at The First State Capitol at 1413 Eoff St. in Wheeling.

Additional Heritage Partners for the event include Cassidy, Cogan, Shapell and Voegelin, Battle of Homestead Foundation and the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum.

The annual symposium, launched in 2017, is the flagship educational event designed to help the WALS Foundation fulfill its mission by providing educational programming in labor and employment history and the related cultural, social, political and legal issues that provide the full context for understanding that history.

This year, the symposium will be offered in solidarity with the Battle of Blair Mountain Centennial organized by the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum.

Presentations from four dynamic speakers will be offered, including: Labor attorney Patrick Cassidy, South Georgia State College labor history professor Dr. Dana Caldemeyer; Glenville State College labor history professor Dr. Robert Hutton and West Virginia University labor history professor Dr. Hal Gorby.

The date of the symposium is appropriate as it is near the birthday of Wheeling’s well known union and human rights leader Walter P. Reuther (Sept. 1, 1907), the culmination of the Battle of Blair Mountain 100 years ago (Sept. 2, 1921) and Labor Day weekend.

In addition to Reuther, who is widely regarded as one of the most influential and charismatic labor and social leaders of the 20th century, the symposium is named in honor of Augustus Pollack, the Wheeling business owner whose progressive policies toward his employees led local labor unions to erect a monument in his honor. It is thought to be the only monument ever built by labor in honor of a business owner.

During the lunch break at the symposium and after a birthday celebration for Reuther with cake and refreshments, attendees will have the opportunity to join a walking tour led by Dr. David Javersak to view both the Pollack and Reuther monuments at Heritage Port on the Wheeling riverfront.

Registration is $10, which holds a seat and covers a box lunch. All proceeds go toward event wexpenses.

To RSVP, send an email to spd@walslaw.com or call 304-232-8100.