"In our movement, we've lost 1,000 good-paying health-benefits and retiree jobs since the first of the year and we see more coming so we've got to figure out how to stop the bleeding, work together and try to do that," said Kenny Perdue, President of the West Virginia AFL-CIO.

In particular the groups are encouraging lawmakers and residents to buy American and West Virginia-made products to benefit the state and national economy.

"We want to keep our work here in America instead of always of buying - just like us in the aluminum industry - instead of buying overseas, why not buy from America here and maybe our plant wouldn't have closed," said Robert Harvey, who lost his job last month when Century Aluminum in Jackson County closed its doors.

"People have to say I can take control of this, I can hone my skills, enhance my skills, I can change my skill sets to better prepare for a changing market," said Governor Joe Manchin, (D) West Virginia.

Union members are also calling on legislators to do their part to bring jobs back to the state and better market its workforce while holding out hope for a better tomorrow.

"We're not too far gone yet," said Harvey. "I mean they keep making references to the great depression, it was turned around. It just took some insight from a few good politicians that were better for the people and we can turn this around."

The AFL-CIO and other union groups are also asking legislators to back the Employee Free Choice Act which would let workers decide whether they want to form a union.