Tag: American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia

Union Leaders Allege Schools Not Safe To Reopen As State Defends Response

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ben Salango and union leaders in West Virginia education say Gov. Jim Justice and state officials are not doing enough for a safe reopening of schools next week. 

The West Virginia chapter of the American Federation of Teachers and gubernatorial candidate Salango held a press conference Wednesday in Charleston citing concerns that several schools across the state are not yet safe enough to open next week.

Fred Albert, president of AFT-West Virginia, said over a Facebook Live broadcast that the greatest concern is aging school buildings in West Virginia that do not have proper ventilation, which Albert said is “vital to mitigating the virus.”

“Our teachers and service personnel miss their students,” Albert said. “We want to return to teaching and to learning, but it must be safe. Our elected leaders have only a few days left to put the proper safety measures and resources in place.”

Albert argued that many teachers have reached out to him and AFT-West Virginia claiming they still do not have personal protective equipment available.

In a https://youtu.be/BELroCe8hY8″>virtual press briefing Wednesday with Justice and other state leaders, the governor said there is money available through the CARES Act for any resources still needed at West Virginia’s more than 600 public schools.

West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch echoed the governor and said he and his staff are “triple checking” to make sure schools have what they need. He said he communicates frequently with county superintendents.

“The governor’s assured us that at no point in time should I be shy coming to him to ask for any dollars that I need,” Burch said in the press briefing. “I’ve got Gen. Hoyer, Secretary Crouch completely backing us up. We’ve got over 2 million face coverings stockpiled, ready to be used.”

Burch did not directly mention the AFT press conference that occurred Wednesday morning, but he did mention Albert and said he feels frustrated “when we continue to hear folks go on and publicly continue to say that our teachers and our schools aren’t ready, and that happened [Wednesday].”

“My door has been open, since day one, March 13, I’ve never closed my door,” Burch said. “My door has been open to anybody who wants to discuss return to school, and I’ve appreciated all the voices who have assisted. Whether you’re a parent advocacy group, whether you are folks representing special needs, whether you’re folks representing foster children, or whether you’re one of our teachers’ unions, or service personnel, my door has been continuously open.”

Still, Albert argued during the AFT press conference for more leadership from the governor with clear, consistent procedures on “how staff, parents and students will be notified of potential cases or exposure in schools.”

Salango said in the Facebook Live broadcast there should be more coronavirus testing and more nurses staffed at schools. Salango also claimed that with $6 million, every school in the state could be equipped with temperature scanners.

“We don’t have thermal scanners, temperature scanners, hands free devices in all of our schools,” Salango argued. “That’s something that’s easy to do, easily installed, easily executed.”

Albert is also asking Justice to allow more time for families to sort out childcare needs should a county change color on the re-entry map. He said being notified on a Saturday night does not give families enough time to prepare.

“If we stay in the orange or move to red by Saturday night at 9 p.m., then our parents will be scrambling over the weekend to provide care for their child.”

Albert said families should at least be notified by Fridays at 5 p.m.

West Virginia’s school re-entry is guided by metrics developed by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. It’s based on a four-color system – green, yellow, orange and red. Each county is assigned a color based on the prevalence of COVID-19 within their borders, according to the West Virginia Department of Education.

Both the governor and Burch say school re-opening remains a “fluid” situation, and they are prepared to respond to any scenario.

Schools in West Virginia are set to begin Sept. 8.

West Virginia Union School Workers Authorize Statewide Action

Updated: Sunday, Feb. 11 at 10:25 p.m.

 

State leaders of unions representing teachers and school service personnel have been authorized to take statewide action.

More than 150 union members representing all 55 counties met with state chapter presidents Dale Lee, of the West Virginia Education Association, and Christine Campbell, of the American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia.

Fueled by growing frustrations over teacher pay, employment vacancies and a dwindling benefits package, Lee and Campbell described the authorization for action as “overwhelmingly in support.” Neither would provide an exact count of the vote.

Both called this weekend’s meeting in Flatwoods “historic,” noting that it was the first time representatives of both organizations had come together.

However, authorization for a work action isn’t necessarily imminent or guaranteed, Lee and Campbell said, and they are hoping to see the legislative process satisfy their collective hopes.

 

According to The National Education Association, a nationwide group to which WVEA belongs, West Virginia was 48th among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., in average teacher pay in 2017. NEA’s website states that the states’s beginning teacher salary is $32,435 and the average salary is $44,701. 

 

Proposed changes to PEIA, the insurance provider for teachers and other state employees, has called for premium and deductible increases, as well as penalties for not fulfilling the requirements of a wellness program. The PEIA Finance Board has scheduled public hearings on the proposed changes across the state this week.

 

However, uncertainties over whether a salary increase — specifically, how much — and if these proposed changes to PEIA will take place is what has led to the authorization of a work action. 

 

“It is open ended,” Campbell said of what might come next. “It was an authorization from the counties to call on state leadership [of the unions] for action, if needed.”

Campbell explained that union members are expecting to “see evidence of priorities” from legislative leaders as session’s end draws closer. The 60-day session ends March 10.

Teachers and school services personnel have organized walk-ins and other events across the state in recent weeks, including a work stoppage and rally at the Capitol on Friday, Feb. 2 by those from Logan, Mingo and Wyoming counties. Workers from elsewhere also joined as a result of weather closing school in their counties. Lee said to expect those types of actions to continue.

“People are angry and they are going to continue to do these activities,” he said.

“Too many years have gone by with a ‘next year,’ ” Campbell said, noting that state government leaders have promised teacher pay raises and a PEIA fix in the past, but have failed to deliver.

Gov. Jim Justice joined Senate President Mitch Carmichael and House Speaker Tim Armstead at a Thursday news conference to discuss a freeze on proposed changes to PEIA benefits — including premium and deductible increases.

Justice and Carmichael agreed during the press conference that a 1-1-1-1-1 formula (a 1-percent raise in each of the next five years) was the conservative and smart way forward — given that state revenues are still stabilizing and the future is uncertain. Armstead noted that he believes a 2-1-1-1 formula (a 2-percent pay increase in the first year and an additional 1-percent raise in each of following three years) was possible.

The AFT-WV and WVEA scheduled a news conference for 1 p.m. Monday at the Capitol. Additionally, a teachers’ rally is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 17, also at the Capitol.

 

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