Despite bill’s demise, West Virginia teachers to strike for second day

CHARLESTON, W.Va.—West Virginia teachers will remain on strike for a second day despite a move by the House of Delegates to effectively kill a complex education bill that had sent them to the picket lines.

The leaders of three unions representing teachers and school service personnel made the announcement Tuesday night that the walkout will continue today.

Earlier, the Republican-led House voted 53-45 to indefinitely table the bill that the unions oppose. That means the bill won’t go to the next step: a committee of Senate and House members who would try to come up with a compromise.

Without being specific, West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee said the unions believe there’s still a small chance there could be further developments with the legislation.

Joe White, executive director of the West Virginia School Service Personnel Association, said that based on a conference call with union members, “the trust is not there.”

American Federation of Teachers’ West Virginia chapter President Fred Albert said the unions’ trust in the House has been somewhat restored, but “we cannot trust the leadership in the Senate,” which has tried to rush the bill to passage.

“We are staying out one more day to make sure that this is a dead bill tomorrow,” Albert said.

Senate President Mitch Carmichael said he was disappointed in the House’s action.

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