Striking West Virginia teachers held strong and, if the state legislature does its part, could be going back to school very soon. They’d be going back with a 5 percent raise for themselves and for all other state employees:
The state Senate had been the holdout but its leaders now say they’re on board. The teachers aren't going to be overly trusting, though:
Union leaders have reportedly said that they will wait for the full legislature to approve the 5-percent raise before ending the strike.
The 5 percent raise is the good news. Continuing concerns about health insurance coverage and the continuing underfunding of West Virginia schools beyond just teacher pay are part of the bad news. The other part is this:
That’s what Republican governance gets you: underpaid teachers getting a raise means cuts for other struggling people—and the wealthy certainly aren’t going to be paying for it.