CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The president of one of the two teachers unions in West Virginia didn’t say a teachers strike would be wrong during an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline” Thursday but West Virginia American Federation of Teachers President Christine Campbell did urge teachers to become informed.
“I don’t want people to do anything without being completely informed,” Campbell said.
It’s illegal for West Virginia public employees to strike but teachers in some counties are holding meetings to talk about it. Campbell said her union and representatives of the West Virginia Education Association are in attendance to provide information.
“As they schedule their local meetings we’re making sure we have people there with literature and information to help them take action (gather support) at the local level and reach out to their legislators,” Campbell said.
The majority of West Virginia teachers participated in an 11-day strike in 1990 over pay and conditions. The work stoppage ended with a settlement was reached between the teachers, leading lawmakers and then-Gov. Gaston Caperton.
Campbell said they want the teachers to know what a strike would really mean for them—and it would have to be democratic vote— members would have to vote as a majority.
“They need to understand the risk and reward and understand what they can do at the local level to help the situation,” Campbell said.
Teachers are, in Campbell’s words, exhausted, overworked, underpaid, attacked year after year on their rights as employees. They are also upset with increases in PEIA premiums.
“Their checks are going down not up,” Campbell said.
Teachers want to be heard, she said.
“I think they need to see the legislators paying attention and actually come out and do something about it, at least talk about it,” Campbell said. “The leadership has to say, ‘We hear you and we want to address your concerns,” Campbell said.
Gov. Jim Justice has proposed a one percent pay raise for teachers in his state budget with plans for an additional one percent for four additional years. The governor’s pay raise bill was changed Thursday afternoon by the Senate Finance Committee to codify the multi-year increase. The move was supported by the governor’s office.
Campbell said the frustration isn’t just about money but it’s also about bills that would take away the rights of employees. She said teachers are informing themselves on all of the bills that have been introduced that would impact them.
“They’re actually educating themselves and saying, ‘Whoa! What are you doing? This isn’t going to help us in public education and certainly isn’t going to help us with our kids,'” Campbell said.
Campbell said in the end teachers are speaking out “because they care about their kids and their jobs.”
“I hope that the folks that are really frustrated right now are heard and I hope they are heard in a way that’s productive and would actually lead to West Virginia making education a priority,” she said.