Educators Stand Strong on Day Two of Strike
By Julie Perine on February 20, 2019
Teachers stand united on the second day of a teacher strike, announced Monday evening by the American Federation of Teachers’ West Virginia Chapter. After standing outside their respective schools for several hours Tuesday, teachers and other school personnel received word that Senate Bill 451 - which had sparked controversy leading to the statewide strike - had by a 53-45 vote been postponed indefinitely by the House of Delegates.
The elation was short-lived as educators questioned whether the controversial omnibus or education reform bill was, in fact, dead.
“We do feel better, but still don’t feel like we’re out of the water,” said JD Lister, AFT building rep for Bridgeport High school, just after the late-Tuesday morning vote.
He said at that time that those who voted to kill the bill had the option – within 24 hours – to reconsider and that at least one delegate who voted to indefinitely table the bill had made a speech in its favor earlier Tuesday.
Governor Jim Justice held a 3:30 p.m. press conference, urging educators to return to the classroom and calling upon legislators to pass his original “clean” bill proposing the five percent pay raise. He said he does not waver concerning his opposition to changing up the education system to include charter schools and educational savings accounts.
“If they came up with two or three charter schools, I’d look at it. Bigger than that or statewide, I’d veto it,” Gov. Justice said. “Now that I completely understand educational savings accounts, I’d veto it. The model is just not there.”
Justice also made mention of a proposed boost to the PEIA insurance issue, which was in the forefront of the 2018 strike.
“PEIA is something we need to look at very hard, but at the same time I don’t think making a $150 million contribution to a rainy day fund needs to go unnoticed,” he said.
When asked about the possibility of the House of Delegates’ revival of SB451, Justice voiced reassurance.
“I have not heard they are going to do that in any way, shape, form or fashion. I’d way this is water way under the bridge,” he said.
Justice said we should be celebrating the state’s success and future, including education.
“I believe whole-heartedly that we are on the right path now and that we’re going to get this done,” he said.
The state capitol was packed to capacity Tuesday; many of those educators traveling from Harrison County and the north central area. Lister said the teachers made their voices clear and were enthusiastic in doing so. All West Virginia school systems except Putnam County were closed Tuesday. Today, the same scenario played out, although some counties cited weather-related reasons for closure.
If delegates who voted in favor of the indefinite postponement of SB451 do not have a change of heart within the 24-hour window for reconsideration – which ends around 11 a.m. today - the bill will die.
“The assumption is that the bill finally totally dies (Wednesday) and we will return to work Thursday,” Lister said.
But as the last couple of days have held plenty of twists and turns, plenty can change in a short amount of time, he said.
Stay tuned for the latest developments.
