Lesson here

The WV teachers' strike began February 23, 2018, and lasted until March 7, 2018. It involved about 20,000 teachers and other education workers, and resulted in a shutdown of schools in all 55 state counties. The media focused on the issues of low pay and high costs, but there were other key demands: rejecting the expansion of charter schools, refusing to accept elimination of seniority, and scuttling a bill aimed at taking away unions’ right to automatic payroll deduction and collection of dues.  

“The solidarity built in West Virginia was built in a strike that united the state against the power structure.”
_{– Jane McAlevey/ The Nation}

Despite the political pounding the teachers were subjected to, the public rallied behind the strikers, and support from across the country poured in (as labour activists north of the border also watched in interest). And the solidarity was powerful; the union won on all five key stances, a remarkable achievement particularly given the public perception of West Virginia as deeply Republican (and, by extension, anti-labour).  

In The Nation, author and activist Jane McAlevey explains that, “Educators, like health-care workers, have an incredibly powerful, organic relationship with their communities—relationships so strong they are durable against sophisticated right-wing attacks. The solidarity built in West Virginia was built in a strike that united the state against the power structure.”   

In the following commentaries, educators and community members from Morgan County, West Virginia, talk about their experiences in the classroom and on the picket line. They discuss what made them take this action, how their political awareness changed throughout the process, and what they learned. These are lessons in solidarity, community building, and civic activism that hold true across sectors and jurisdictions, from which we can all benefit.  

Special thanks to Dale Wurster (part time music and art teacher), Donna Meyer (teacher), Casey Munson (kindergarten teacher), Kim Khuen (bus driver), Summer McClintock (parent and elementary school teacher) and Kim Weaver (custodian) for being so generous with their time, reflections, and photography skills. And my eternal gratitude to Angela Petry for coordinating and conducting these interviews and helping to bring these important experiences to our readers. The 2018 work stoppage involved many of Angela’s friends and acquaintances and she was strongly supportive: "West Virginians showed real leadership and initiative by staging this massive and peaceful work stoppage that was subsequently emulated by other states. I'm very proud of all who took part." 

– Erika Shaker, editor, OS/OS
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

#55 United!
_{By Dale Wurster}

When the first opportunity came to vote about whether or not our school would participate in the West Virginia teachers’ strike, most of the teachers at Pleasant View Elementary voted to opt out. They were concerned it might hurt the public perspective on voting to support our local levy which funds school supplies, salaries, etc. As a part time teacher (library and art) I decided I would support whatever decision the rest of the staff made.  

Later on, when it looked like most of the 55 counties in WV were leaning towards striking, our teachers decided to join the group; hence the slogan #55 United! 

I had been part of the strike in the 1990’s. That was not a state-wide strike and our county only participated for five days. Wages were docked for those who did not show up to work. I had joined the picket line but the strike was over before I had to decide if I wanted to risk my wages. So, having been through it before I was not afraid of striking this time.  

There was really no personal benefit to me in joining the strike. I was planning to retire at the end of the year but had not yet told my fellow staff members. I would not see the raise increase and I already didn’t qualify for health insurance because I only teach two days a week. However, our school is very small—six classroom teachers plus aides, cooks, secretary, custodian plus part time music, PE, art, etc. I felt having an extra body on the line would help. 

"Everyone was committed to the strike by the time it ended and would’ve stayed out as many days as it took to get a result."
_{– Dale Wurster}

Many of the teachers were reluctant to strike in the first place. It was against their teaching contract. What would the families think? Would students understand why school was closed? Would we be criticized that kids were missing breakfast and lunch during the work stoppage? 

The full-time teachers had much more to lose, and we didn’t know how long the job action would go on.  People were afraid. In fact, most teachers in our local high school did not participate in the sign waving along our main street.  Many of them were new, did not have tenure, and were afraid of not being rehired. They were encouraged NOT to strike by a veteran teacher, who thought striking would affect our Special Levy, which was coming up for a vote. [The levy, which uses property taxes to supplement educational expenses, has to be renewed every few years. If the public doesn't want it, they can vote it out to lower their personal property taxes.] 

Anticipating and understanding the trepidation of new teachers was part of our long-term strategy. Retired teachers who had been in the first strike in the 1990’s and mentored those who participated this year stressed that we not harbor ill feelings towards those who chose not to participate in the work stoppage because we’d all have to work together when it was over. 

We wanted to have a good presence in our rural community, picketing along the side of the road, waving signs as parents and students drove by. On a good day we had 12-15 people there. So I stood in the cold holding signs and waving at the passing cars for the four days I would’ve taught during the work stoppage. We wanted the local community members to see that the strike was important enough for us to stand in the cold from 8:00-3:00 every day. Pleasant View Teachers were not using this time to take a break or go shopping—we were out there every day—rain, shine, snow and strong wind!  

We also used this time to get to know each other better as there is little time during the school day to even have a casual chat. Teachers called in their absences the evening before each day of the strike after conferring with the local union reps. The superintendent, who obviously supported us, cancelled school each day "for safety reasons and not enough staff to supervise or bus the students”. So technically we had a “work stoppage” and not a walk-out. We never lost a day's pay, but we do have to make up all the days of the strike at the end of the school year. 

Most of the passing cars and trucks gave a honk in support or a thumbs-up and a smile. People stopped and gave us food and hot drinks. Some of the staff took four hour trips to Charleston to join the thousands protesting at the capital. On their return they were more committed than ever that the reasons for the strike were valid and that the legislators needed to make good on their promises.  

Everyone was committed to the strike by the time it ended and would’ve stayed out as many days as it took to get a result.  

The nine-day strike was a momentous and meaningful event. Teachers are used to collaborating, cooperating, compromising and doing what they’re told for fear of a poor evaluation. Many stood up for themselves for the first time and said Enough! It was definitely worth it. The teachers feel empowered now. And the teachers at my school are much more confident and less afraid of speaking up. I’m so proud of them! 

Power in Numbers 
_{By Kim Khuen}  

I have been an employee at Morgan County Schools in West Virginia for about 10 years. I drive a school bus and though I have taught in the classroom, I prefer the dynamic I have with the kids on the bus. I consider myself an unlicensed social worker on occasion and I enjoy teaching the kids social etiquette and life skills vs reading, writing and math. I love getting to know the whole family and having an impact on them for many years rather than only the one year a teacher often gets.   

We live in a world where technology has replaced authentic social experience and I often joke if it weren't for social media I'd have no social life at all. But at heart I'm an old soul and value human connection so the work stoppage for me was an amazing break from our modern world. It took me back to a time when people connected in powerful ways. The communication was strong and we felt unified. The camaraderie was visible, not only within our county but throughout the state and even outward to other states...our nation was awake...it felt alive!   

Here locally, we have a Facebook page called “The Voices of Morgan County” and it was very active during the stoppage. There was plenty of negativity: those who were worried about the kids being out of school, those who don't understand the perspective of working with kids day in and day out.  

The positive feedback, however, was amazing and far outweighed the negative.  Employees, both those on the picket lines and those who chose to support from home, were inspiring in the sharing of information and exchange of ideas. The support and encouragement was unprecedented! Many, many non-employees were supportive as well, including retired school employees. You couldn't go anywhere in the community without seeing evidence of or hearing about the work stoppage.   

School employees invest a lot in the upcoming generation, and of course we do it out of love but we still deserve to have decent pay and benefits. However, we hadn't had a pay raise in many years and the cost and quality of the insurance is atrocious. We provide in many ways for these kids and their families out of our own pockets and hearts. Even as a bus driver I buy jackets, gloves, back packs, books and school supplies every year. I can't imagine how much the teachers invest in keeping their classrooms stocked with the things kids constantly need. To be clear, not one person I know who works in the schools resents this part of the job.  

There is no correlation between this and wanting fair pay that keeps up with inflation, but it is often used both as an example to express how we go above and beyond, and at the same time to criticize us. That criticism would never keep us from helping the kids and families we are connected to.   

In the end, the unity brought power in numbers and a raise was legislated and voted in. We also received a plan in place to work on the insurance with a committee and promise of improvement.   

Some of my personal favorite moments of the work stoppage were:

1. The amazing and creative signs on the picket lines.
2. An incredible video put together by a young teacher who graduated from Berkeley Springs High School in Morgan County.
3. The real time and real life education via living experience both the adults AND kids learned about civics during the stoppage.
4. Driving around town and honking and waving at the picketers. Conversing with anyone and everyone around town about what was going on.