Posted on 02/18/2018 3:44:54 AM PST by buckalfa
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There will be no public school next Thursday or Friday anywhere in West Virginia. Whether classes resume on Monday remained up in the air. The West Virginia teachers unions and service personnel organizations all agreed to authorize the first ever walkout in all 55 counties of teachers and service personnel.
“We’re done. We’re done waiting. We waited and have given them chances and they didn’t want to take it seriously,” said Teacher Christiana Frye of Cabell Midland High School. “Honestly I’m praying two days is enough because some people can’t afford to be out longer than that, but the way they’ve treated us so far I don’t know that it will.”
Cathy Pizzino, a teacher at Robert C. Byrd High School in Clarksburg was dug in for whatever it takes.
“We’ll be out a whole hell of a lot longer than two days,” she said. “I’m ready for 20, 30 whatever it is. I told my kids, it’s going to be a long haul.”
Thousands of teachers stood more than two hours in a cold and driving rain on Saturday, covering the Lincoln Plaza of the State Capitol. There, they pledged solidarity and believe the work stoppage will be the pressure needed to get improvements. The teachers agreed pay was an issue, but by no means the only issue.
“It’s the PEIA, it’s the wanting to take our seniority, it’s allowing uncertified teachers to come in and teach our classes,” said Donna Roberts who teaches at Sherman Elementary in Boone County. “It’s about a whole lot more than a paycheck.”
“I don’t think it’s fair that my benefits are determined by my husband’s or my family’s total income,” added Brenda Bolyard a teacher in Taylor County. “It’s ridiculous.”
While most agree the work stoppage is necessary, they also agreed it was worrisome to know students will not be in school those days.
“It’s not anything we want to do,” Roberts added. “But when we’re facing not being able to pay our bills month to month, we have to do something.”
“I actually have two children in the school system myself and even if I wasn’t a teacher, I’d be right there with their teachers,” said Frye. “They are helping to shape my children’s future and we are worried about the students.”
Although a strike by public employees in is illegal, West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee indicated on MetroNews Talkline it isn’t something the union considered a factor.
“What are they going to do, fire 15,000 people?” Lee rhetorically asked when questioned about the legality of the work stoppage.
They’re helping us shut down public government schools; what many have asked for. Let schools go private. Private schools do so much better and I bet President Trump will let the people use the money they’ve been paying for horrible schools back to the parents so they can chose they’re own school. He should hold out until all teachers nationwide picket.
Worst part is most of the school tax money doesn’t go for salaries and infrastructure. Oh, no. It goes for pensions and insanely generous health bennies.
Sure it is. The reason is that your benefits will likely exceed anything you've ever paid into the system so the only way not to fleece everyone else(i.e. not fair to them) is to hold down costs by means testing the benefits.
I don't understand why all defined benefit plans aren't means tested.
If they did this, among other things, all those double and triple dippers would have no motive to get those benefits
Not in Georgia. Those are illegal in this state.
Hopefully you are not in the Peoples Republic of Lewisburg, WV. We moved from there to urban Upstate South Carolina but have found that the progressive mind set is now likely found everywhere in local and state government. I guess running is no longer an option, the opposition must be confronted.
“Not in Georgia. Those are illegal in this state.”
Since when? My friend was training to become a teacher, and had to join the teacher’s union. No choice for public school teachers. He teaches at a private school now. I guess things could have changed in the last few years, and GA is a right to work state, but there is some union activity here.
Welcome to the real world. I’m sorry to hear they were able to brainwash you. You have my condolences.
Sad to hear. We’re near Parkersburg.
I am a teacher in Georgia. The union has few members because it is not mandatory. I know nobody that joined. They have no power to call a strike, or anything else.
I’m thinking the Ohio mind rot is seeping across the river. We need to move farther south.
_____________________________
Yes, people are talking about this current phenomena. Liberal socialists are trashers, they destroy there local environs, then move to conservative locales to destroy those sites as well. They ooze out from large metropolitan areas like D.C. to West Virginia and bring their destructive ideologies and liberal mindsets with them. This suggests there will soon be no place left in the U.S where their influence is not felt.
““What are they going to do, fire 15,000 people?” Lee rhetorically“
Do it day one.
L
In Georgia, a teacher is a hostage of the administration.
“I believe that something has to be available to protect all school employees.”
Protect you from what, exactly?
“Every time a Superintendent, principal or even a department chair is changed in a PS district, peoples heads roll simply to accommodate the new executive’s personnel wishes.”
Boo fricking hoo. Try the private sector during a merger or acquisition or new management.
“That’s a lousy way to run a school.”
CPS can’t fire a teacher and look at them. One of the worst performing school districts in the country.
“but for entire schools or departments being turned over because a new Superintendent or Physical Plant Director wants “his people” working for him isn’t the way to go.”
Yep, you’re a teacher. And you have no idea just how stupid you sound. None.
L
Everybody’s benefits are affected by their family’s benefits. It’s to prevent double dipping the overworked ObamaCare™ system.
It is Obama’s fault
He killed coal and coal pays the teachers
The strike is about hope, hope they can win the coming elections
A school named after KKK Robert Byrd.
Lovely.
I’m married to a retired administrator who attempted to rid the district of a certain individual.
I have never seen such a “protected” class as teachers.
“I have never seen such a “protected” class as teachers.”
And the incessant whining they do is maddening.
L
agreed - Calvin Coolidge was correct when he broke the gov’t unions in Boston.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.