CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – The Latest on a statewide teachers strike in West Virginia (all times local):
1 p.m.
West Virginia’s teachers are applauding the unanimous Senate approval of a 5 percent raise in pay for teachers and troopers, in a deal to end a nine-day walkout that closed schools statewide.
Teachers celebrate after West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and Senate Republicans announced they reached a tentative deal to end a statewide teachers’ strike by giving them 5 percent raises in Charleston, W.Va., Tuesday, March 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Robert Ray)
Teachers cheered in the Senate gallery after the 34-0 approval. The raise also covers school service personnel.
The House already approved the deal in a vote of 99-0 on Tuesday.
Governor Jim Justice said “I believe in you and I love our kids” to the teachers after the deal was made, and plans a news conference later Tuesday.
West Virginia’s teachers are among the lowest paid in the nation and haven’t had a salary increase in four years. Senate Finance Chairman Craig Blair said they’ll need to cut state spending by $20 million to pay for the raises by taking funds from general government services and Medicaid.
Other state workers will have to wait for a budget bill to pass before getting their 5 percent raises promised under the deal.
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11:50 a.m.
West Virginia’s House of Delegates has passed a 5 percent pay raise for striking teachers after a legislative conference committee agreed to the figure.
With teachers cheering from the gallery, the measure passed the House 99-0 Tuesday, providing 5 percent raises for teachers, school service personnel and state troopers. It now awaits action in the state Senate.
The governor, union leaders and the House of Delegates had agreed to the raise last week for teachers, who are among the lowest paid in the nation and haven’t had a salary increase in four years. But the Senate refused to go along, approving a 4 percent increase Saturday. The six-member conference committee then agreed to the 5 percent figure Tuesday, and for more than just teachers.
Senate Finance Chairman Craig Blair says to pay for the raises, lawmakers will seek to cut state spending by $20 million, taking funds from general government services and Medicaid. Other state workers who also would get 5 percent raises under the deal will have to wait for a budget bill to pass.
Teachers have been on strike since Feb. 22.
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10:20 a.m.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice says a tentative agreement has been reached to end a nine-day statewide teachers’ strike by giving them the 5 percent raises he negotiated to end their walkout.
He said Tuesday that additional budget cuts by his staff will enable all state workers to also get 5 percent raises.
Senate Republicans confirmed the deal, saying it involves some reduced government.
On Twitter, Justice says: “I stood rock solid on the 5% Teacher pay raise and delivered. Not only this, but my staff and I made additional cuts which will give all State employees 5% as well. All the focus should have always been on fairness and getting the kids back in school.”
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6 a.m.
West Virginia legislators plan to meet Tuesday in search of a compromise that could end the strike by West Virginia teachers, now entering its ninth day.
A show of support by thousands of teachers and supporters on Monday didn’t immediately sway the lawmakers, who failed to agree on a 5 percent pay raise, forcing another day of cancelled classes for the school system’s 277,000 students and 35,000 employees.
The governor, union leaders and the House of Delegates agreed to the 5 percent pay raise for the teachers, who are among the lowest paid in the nation and haven’t had a salary increase in four years. The Senate offered only 4 percent.
A conference committee of six House and Senate members met for the second time Monday evening, where Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns said his chamber’s leadership was offering “a compromise position.” He noted it was only preliminary. Details were not disclosed publicly. The committee planned to meet again Tuesday morning.
Wyoming County’s Mullens Elementary school teachers Kara Brown, from right, Katherine Dudley and Nina Tunstalle, along with Lois Casto of Central Elementary school in St. Albans, react to news that West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and Senate Republicans have reached a tentative deal to end a strike by giving them 5 percent raises in Charleston, W.Va., on Tuesday, March 6, 2018. (Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)
West Virginia Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns, R-Ohio, left, and House Education Chairman Paul Espinosa, R-Jefferson, discuss an agreement reached by a legislative conference committee for a 5 percent pay increase for striking teachers Tuesday, March 6, 2018, at the Capitol in Charleston, W.Va. Gov. Jim Justice and West Virginia’s Republican leaders tentatively agreed Tuesday to end the state’s nine-day teachers’ walkout by giving 5 percent raises to not just teachers, but all state workers. (AP Photo/John Raby)
West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee, left, and American Federation of Teachers’ West Virginia chapter President Christine Campbell talk to reporters as an agreement was reached by a legislative conference committee for a 5 percent pay increase for striking teachers Tuesday, March 6, 2018, at the Capitol in Charleston, W.Va. Gov. Jim Justice and West Virginia’s Republican leaders tentatively agreed Tuesday to end the state’s nine-day teachers’ walkout by giving 5 percent raises to not just teachers, but all state workers. (AP Photo/John Raby)
Mitch Carmichael, president of the West Virginia sate Senate, adjourns the Senate for a brief period inside the Capitol in Charleston, W. Va., on Monday, March 5, 2018; the eighth day of statewide school closures. (Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)
Abbie Burge, a Parkersburg South High School art teacher, poses with her sign at the capitol in Charleston, W. Va., on Monday, March 5, 2018. Striking teachers in West Virginia delivered yet another message to lawmakers Monday by packing the state Capitol to capacity, the eighth school day of the walkout. (Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)
From left, kindergarten teacher Terra Triggs, first grade teacher Andrea Mason, kindergarten teacher Lisa Taylor, reading specialist Shelly Sexton, Brynn Triggs, Nikki Sexton relax and talk as they wait for the latest legislative news at the capitol in Charleston, W.V., on Monday, March 5, 2018; the eighth day of statewide school closures. All are teachers at Hedgesville Elementary school in Berkeley Country, W.V. (Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)
Teachers and school personnel watch a conference committee hearing in session at the capitol in Charleston, W.Va., on Monday, March 5, 2018. The hearing was called as a discussion to end the impasse between the House and Senate regarding pay increases for education personnel. (Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)
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