United States: the great teachers’ strike of West Virginia

The North American state of West Virginia was, for nine days, the scenario of the longest and most massive teacher strike since the 1970s. The reasons for the strike were the demand for a 5% salary increase and the total financing of the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) that provides health services.


 The range was historic. Thirty thousand teachers left their classrooms for more than a week, to which was added the support of state non-teaching workers and the students' support was total and mass demonstrations were held.


 "The fight began as a series of one-day strikes organized independently of the unions in the south coal counties, which spread to the 55 counties" (WSWS, 9/3). This deep movement forced the teaching bureaucracy of the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to decree the strike.


When the state Senate mounted a farce-like session that granted a 4% increase to teachers through a bill, the bureaucracy tried to lift the fight, but the teachers disobeyed and continued the strike. The Democratic Party operated very actively throughout the conflict to contain the workers, and facing the legislative elections in November.


Finally, the teaching conductors reached an agreement with the Republican governor Jim Justice that grants the 5% increase and that extends to all state workers. However, in terms of guaranteeing health coverage through the PEIA, only the creation of a working group to address the problem was resolved. And the salary increase will be financed through budget cuts in social assistance (idem).


Teachers from Oklahoma, Arizona, Kentucky and other states where there are similar protests and claims hailed the force measurement, which gives signs that it is not an isolated struggle. The issue of access to health is becoming a dramatic issue for the American masses.


In this context, the battle of the teachers of West Virginia constitutes a witness fight against the anti-worker policies of Trump and the state negotiations in the hands of democrats and republicans.


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