West Virginia Teacher’s Strike Continues

Despite a tentative deal being struck between Gov. Jim Justice and West Virginia teachers unions Tuesday night, schools across the state remained closed on Thursday. Although officials expected that schools would reopen Thursday—a week after the strike started—it became clear there would not be enough staff in-school to restart classes. Cabell, Kanawha, and Lincoln counties announced the continued closures were due to “planned continued strikes.” The strike stems from changes in the state’s Public Employees Insurance Agency health coverage, where “benefit cuts and premium increases” were planned. Gov. Justice and Republican legislators voted to delay those changes until mid-2019, but teachers have been pushing for a more long-term solution and pay raises.