Teachers in West Virginia decided to remain on strike because the Republican state Senate reaffirmed its decision to allow charter schools, according to a report in WV MetroNews, republished by the West Virginia Education Association.
While the House ditched a controversial omnibus education bill, the Senate voted to reaffirm it. The bill would allow parents to withdraw their support for public schools and set up individual education accounts instead.
Teachers called the statewide strike despite winning pay increases and personal leave incentives.
“We are taking action,” said Fred Albert, president of the American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia. “We are given no other choice. As of tomorrow we are calling a statewide strike.”
Senate President Mitch Carmichael denounced teachers in a series of hate-filled tweets.
“After years of ruining our state’s public education system, the teacher union bosses … have lost their grip on reality,” he tweeted.