Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 15, 1990 TAG: 9003152492
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, W.VA. LENGTH: Medium
If the strikers don't return to work Monday after the cooling-off period, the counties will begin notifying them they could be reprimanded, suspended, dismissed or barred from teaching for up to a year, said state School Superintendent Hank Marockie.
"Things are getting a little out of control as far as tempers," Marockie said. "It is my hope that this time will . . . allow county superintendents to talk with teachers about options which would lead to their return to work by Monday."
The announcement came after unions representing 19,000 teachers rejected a proposal by Gov. Gaston Caperton to end the strike, complaining that the plan didn't include a guaranteed pay raise.
The governor's proposal called for a special legislative session to consider a raise only if the state develops a big enough surplus. This year's budget is running $29.5 million behind estimates.
Caperton also proposed an "education summit" in May, adjustments in pay aimed at equalizing teacher salaries statewide, and full funding of health insurance and pensions.
The West Virginia Education Association, the larger of the two unions on strike, called the pay raise provision "too vague."
"Teachers have been on the picket lines for concrete improvements. For years they've heard promises, and those promises have been consistently broken," WVEA President Kayetta Meadows said in a statement.
"The education summit will simply be another study if it is not backed by a special legislative session."
West Virginia Federation of Teachers Executive Director Bob Brown said his union, too, would remain on strike.
The strike by 19,000 of the state's 22,000 public school teachers began March 7.
Pickets were reported in 47 of the 55 counties Wednesday. About two-thirds of the state's 22,000 teachers failed to report to work, said Carolyn Spangler, Department of Education spokeswoman.
Attorney General Roger Tompkins said teachers can be suspended or fired, barred from teaching for a year or charged with misdemeanors for violating their employment contracts by striking.
The walkout began after the governor said the state couldn't afford public employee pay raises in the 1990-1991 budget, which takes effect in July. Teachers received a 5 percent pay increase in February.
Classes have been canceled in about half the affected counties, idling more than 150,000 of the 328,000 students.
by CNB