Deal Reached To End West Virginia Teacher Strike

West Virginia’s governor and state legislators struck a deal with union leaders to end the massive teacher strike that has closed schools across the state for nine weekdays.

Gov. Jim Justice (R) announced early Tuesday that teachers, school personnel and state employees would all receive a 5 percent raise this year. Meanwhile, health insurance costs would be temporarily frozen as the state develops a task force to deal with rising premiums. Workers were demanding the state curb insurance costs and give them significant raises after years of stagnant pay.

The state House and Senate passed the measure Tuesday and Justice signed it the same day. Legislators said schools were expected to reopen Wednesday.

Workers inside the capitol were chanting “Today! Today!” as legislators met to pass the bill.

Justice proclaimed last week that he’d reached a deal to end the strike, only to see rank-and-file workers remain off the job as his pay proposal fell apart in the state Senate. The earlier deal would have provided a smaller raise for state workers than the one detailed on Tuesday.


Source : huffingtonpost