Striking teachers seek forum

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Thousands of striking teachers who have shut down West Virginia classrooms for days are demanding a face-to-face meeting with the governor and legislative leaders about pay grievances, a union official said Monday.

Teachers rallied Monday outside the state Capitol amid pledges to continue the walkout unless their complaints are heard. The state’s average teacher pay ranks among the lowest in the nation, and teachers are balking at approved increases they say are too stingy, especially as health-care costs rise.

The teachers, represented by the American Federation of Teachers, the West Virginia Education Association and the West Virginia School Service Personnel Association, want Republican Gov. Jim Justice and leaders of the state Senate and House to meet with them.

Unless that happens, the strike by teachers that began Thursday in all 55 counties will continue Tuesday, said Christine Campbell, president of the AFT’s West Virginia chapter.

“You’ve got to come to the table. We can’t have five different conversations,” Campbell said. Until everyone gets together at once, she said, “we’re not going back” to the classroom.

She said there have been separate talks with various leaders but not with the governor, who spoke at town-hall style meetings Monday in three cities.

Justice signed legislation last week providing across-theboard teacher raises of 2 percent, or $808, for the next school year and $404 in each of the following two years.