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Moving - Merrifield, Virginia

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In the meantime, enjoy reading the brief history we have included for you.

A Brief History of Merrifield, Virginia

The UMWA Moves to Merrifield, Virginia

Since 1936, the UMWA's International headquarters has proudly occupied the corner of 15th and I Streets in downtown Washington, D.C., just a few blocks from the White House. This spring, however, the grand six-story building was sold by the UMWA to Summit Properties for $8 million, which will go into the union's general treasury fund. The UMWA will move before the end of the year.

"This was one of the toughest decisions I have ever had to make on behalf of UMWA members," said President Roberts. "This building has been a dear, old friend to us for 63 years, but I feel that even John L. Lewis himself would support the officers' and IEB's decision that the costs to refurbish the building were simply too great. Renovating the building would have required replacement of all the plumbing, electric and heating and cooling systems, as well as every window. There were also serious structural problems. In fact, the cost to renovate nearly equaled the building's appraisal. But in spite of that, this is still our home and it will be very hard to leave it."

The UMWA's new International headquarters will be located in Merrifield, Virginia, less than 30 minutes from the center of Washington, D.C. The memorabilia and art housed at the old building will be moving to the new headquarters.

"We are being very careful to ensure that visitors to the new headquarters share the same sense of history we have enjoyed here," explained Roberts. "And once we move, I encourage all UMWA members visiting Washington, D.C., to stop by and visit our new building."

Roberts added that, "Member services will not be affected because we are staying in the D.C. metro-politan area. We chose northern Virginia because it is close and the cost to lease space was considerably less than it was in Washington, D.C. We will still be able to lobby Congress, meet with MSHA, OSHA and the BCOA or attend the key meetings, dinners and other functions occurring in the nation's capitol on any given day. This seems like sound judgment when you are trying to make the best use of the members' money."

The UMWA's current headquarters opened in 1911 as a mens' retreat called the University Club and was purchased 25 years later by John L. Lewis. To honor the UMWA leader, once the building is refurbished by its new owners, it will be called the "John L. Lewis Building."

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