In a stunning display of solidarity, West Virginia teachers and staff statewide struck for nine days, and won 5 percent pay increases for all state public employees. It was a victory that has inspired school workers in Arizona and Oklahoma to plan potential actions.
Some of the lowest paid teachers in the U.S., over 85 percent of these Appalachian state workers voted to strike. The conviction of the wildcat strikers caught politicians off guard. When the governor and union leadership offered a lousy deal, the educators turned it down flat. And held out days longer for a much better offer.
Hopefully this is the face of things to come!
