West Virginia Teachers Win Promise of Pay Raise, But Continue Strike over Soaring Healthcare Costs
by mail@democracynow.org (Democracy Now!) from Democracy Now! on (#3H36F)
In West Virginia, public schools remain closed today, after the state's teachers' unions remained on strike over the high cost of health insurance. On Tuesday, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice agreed to boost teacher salaries by 5 percent in the first year of a new contract, but the teachers say the deal isn't enough to offset skyrocketing premiums in the Public Employees Insurance Agency. Some 20,000 teachers and 13,000 school staffers say they'll remain on strike until they win a better agreement on healthcare.