15,000 U.S. teachers strike in West Virgina over low pay, healthcare costs

Edited by Pavel Jacomino
2018-02-23 15:27:00

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Teachers hit the bricks in labor action in West Virginia. Photo: Democracy Now

Charleston, Feb 23 (RHC)-- In the U.S. state of West Virginia, schools are closed after some 15,000 public school teachers launched a two-day strike in order to protest for better healthcare and pay.  Teachers haven’t seen an across-the-board pay raise since 2014, even as healthcare costs have risen sharply—leaving many teachers with dwindling take-home pay. 

West Virginia is a so-called right-to-work state where strikes by public employees are prohibited.  Asked by reporters about the legality of the labor action, West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee said: “What are they going to do, fire 15,000 people?” 

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