West Virginia Home tables bill that led to second instructor strike in a year – Fox News

The costs that closed schools in West Virginia as teachers went on strike was tabled by state lawmakers only hours after the demonstration began.

Teachers in West Virginia went on strike Tuesday in action to a new bill they thought was retaliation against their nine-day strike last February, which launched a movement of teachers’ union strikes throughout the nation over the last year.

Public schools in all but one of the state’s 55 counties had been closed on Tuesday while hundreds of instructors’ union members picketed at the state capitol.

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The complex bill, which consisted of a provision to produce the state’s initially charter schools and allow for personal school vouchers, was rapidly eliminated by the West Virginia Home of Delegates. The House voted 53 -45 to table the costs forever and the unions stated they would meet with their members before they decide whether to take more action, including ending the strike.

American Federation of Teachers’ West Virginia chapter President Fred Albert stated “it was extremely clear today that the House heard our voice.”

Senate President Mitch Carmichael said he was disappointed by the House’s vote.

“Today the champs of the status quo won,” Carmichael included. “But that will not stop development. They’re on the incorrect side of history. Other states are moving forward. It’s a marker in the procedure of education reform. It’s not the end. The students, parents and teachers lost.”

Why were teachers protesting the costs?

The unions grumbled lawmakers never ever asked for their insight into the expense that would have actually overhauled West Virginia’s academic system.

One sticking point has actually been a provision to produce the state’s first charter schools, which the unions believe would erode standard public education but bill advocates say would provide parents more school options. Charter school laws have actually been enacted in 43 other states and Washington, D.C.

The Senate variation would have actually allowed for up to 7 charter schools statewide and provide for up to 1,000 education savings accounts for parents to pay for private school. The accounts would be for special-needs trainees and those who have actually been bullied.

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The House variation did not call for such savings accounts and would limitation charter schools to one each in Cabell and Kanawha counties.

Before the Home vote, Republican Gov. Jim Justice had stated he would veto the expense if it included the savings accounts and more than 2 charter schools. He was crucial of how the Senate dealt with the legislation.

What were West Virginia instructors opposing last year?

Almost precisely a year ago, instructors in West Virginia went on strike after the governor signed a 2 percent pay raise for the next year. West Virginia teachers were among the lowest-paid in the nation and hadn’t seen a wage boost in 4 years.

After nine days of picketing and objecting, which left 277,000 students out of school, the House of Delegates authorized a 5 percent increase.

After the February 2018 protests, instructors in Arizona, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Washington state, Los Angeles and Denver followed suit. The strike in Los Angeles ended in January and the protest in Denver ended last week.

Teachers in Oakland, California, have licensed a strike beginning Thursday over class sizes, counselor and nurse staffing and raises.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.