“Enough is Enough!” Across West Virginia teachers and service personnel are standing up to the state legislature that for too long has undervalued their work and commitment to the children and future of their state. They’ve coordinated a state-wide work stoppage in protest over low pay, increasing health insurance costs, efforts to undermine unions and the state legislature’s inadequate proposals.
Teachers, joined by students and union representatives are making their way to the state capitol, Charleston, to rally and address state lawmakers. Unlike many other states, in West Virginia educator compensation and benefits are negotiated at the state level rather than by local school boards.
The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports:
Teachers across West Virginia walked off the job Thursday, demonstrating at the state Capitol and at some schools in frustration over what they say is state leaders' refusal to pay them and fund their benefits adequately.
Late Wednesday, Gov. Jim Justice announced that he had signed a bill, passed by the state Senate earlier in the day, that would give teachers a 2 percent raise as of July 1, and a 1 percent raise each of the following two years, as well as raises for other public employees.
Teachers say those raises would be swallowed up by premium hikes and benefit cuts from the Public Employee Insurance Agency. At the governor's urging, PEIA board members froze those cuts for a year, but teachers say a long-term solution is needed.
Teachers are doing this even though they face the possibility of severe consequences
In 1990, amid West Virginia’s first widespread teacher strike, the state Attorney General’s Office wrote in an official opinion that teacher strikes and “concerted work stoppages” are illegal, citing prior court rulings, teacher contract language and students’ state constitutional right to a “thorough and efficient education.”
The opinion said teachers could be punished by being denied pay, suspended, fired, barred from teaching in a public school for a year, hit with criminal misdemeanors, or even fined or jailed for refusing to comply with any potential court injunctions forcing them to return to work.
In many areas teachers worked with unions, parent groups, churches and other community groups to provide students with food and activities while their schools were closed. Per CNN:
Teachers' unions organized educators and service staff members to work with food pantries to send children home with extra food in advance of the school closures. Some community centers and churches are also hosting programs for students so working parents don't have to stay home.
Solidarity matters — Courage is contagious
Fight for what you love — Leave no power on the table
edit- fixed spelling in title to Virginia