| WEST VIRGINIA TEACHER STRIKE "IMMINENT" - Walk-In Rallies Set For Grantsville-Arnoldsburg Wednesday
2/12/2018 - The Presidents of the AFT - West Virginia and West Virginia Education Association held a news conference Monday saying
a strike is imminent, it's not a matter of if but when it will happen.
WVEA President, Dale Lee, says teachers statewide are "ready to pull the trigger."
He says they "have overwhelming support across the state, "indicating that teachers are angry over salary, benefits and other issues."
Officials said this will be statewide action.
It would be the first teachers strike since 1990.
2/11/2010 - WV state-level unions representing teachers and service personnel across the Mountain State now have the authority to take a statewide action.
"There was overwhelming support across the state to authorize some type of work action for the leadership to be able to call," said Dale Lee, president of the West Virginia Education Association.
The action that was decided by representatives from 55 counties, including the American Federation of Teachers in West Virginia and the WVEA, is expected to crystallize this week.
WVEA President Dale Lee said there's momentum for action, but he said there would be no immediate actions taken while the legislative process remained ongoing.
"That doesn't mean we're calling something on Monday," he said. "It gives us the authorization. The legislative process is still early. It's time to look at the legislation that's moving, give us the opportunity to go in and try to continue to work the process for the best possible deal. But knowing that we have the opportunity, if the need arise, we have the overwhelming support of the state to look at actions we may take."
CALHOUN RALLIES SET
Walk-In Rallies are planed in Grantsville and Arnoldsburg Wednesday, Feb. 14, involving Calhoun Middle-High, Pleasant Hill, Arnoldsburg, and Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center school teachers, employees, parents, community members, with additional state employees.
The events are an opportunity to inform the public and ask for support with issues developing with [PEIA] the WV Public Employees Insurance Agency and small pay raises.
WV teachers are among the lowest paid in the USA, and in several rural counties that will not pass a levy to support salaries, it is even worse.
Rallies have been held in multiple counties across the state in recent days.
"This is not just a teacher issue," said a local rally organizer, "It affects every state and public employee. Calhoun's Walk-Ins provide unity for our county, and is an opportunity for legislators in Charleston to see that Calhoun stands united until PEIA is completely fixed, and all state workers are provided a fair salary increase."
FEB. 14 WALK-IN SCHEDULE
7:00-7:30 a.m. Walk-Ins will be located at the Bridge in Grantsville for CM-HS, Pleasant Hill and CGCC teachers, school employees and supporters, and at the Laundromat in Arnoldsburg for Arnoldsburg Elementary employees and supporters, also 7:00-7:30 a.m.
4-5 p.m. Walk-In located at the Bridge in Grantsville for state and public employees and those that support them.
7-7:30 a.m 4-5 p.m. Walk-In for Arnoldsburg Elementary teachers, employees, state and public employees and supporters, held at the Laundromat in Arnoldsburg.
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