Inequality.org - Teachers are ready to revolt. That’s the message we ought to take away from West Virginia, where educators in every county went on strike to demand better compensation. The teachers secured a major victory, including a 5 percent pay raise for state public employees. Read.
WVCBP in the News
Charleston Gazette - West Virginia continues to experience a steady economic recovery. Read.
Beckley Register-Herald - A bill implementing work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one step closer to becoming law. Read.
The American Prospect - For years, states have cut school funding while reducing taxes on corporation. But teachers and workers are fighting back. Read.
The American Prospect - West Virginia’s teachers won a 5 percent pay raise for all state employees. But it was the legislature’s corporate tax cuts that underfunded the teachers in the first place—and it may slash public services to pay for the raise. Read.
Charleston Gazette-Mail - A state Senate committee sent a bill to the floor Thursday that would impose work requirements on certain able-bodied adults without dependents in order to qualify for benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which includes food stamp benefits. Read.
New Republic - West Virginia teachers have a deal. On Tuesday, a compromise reached by a conference committee composed of Democratic and Republican members of the state House and Senate raised public worker pay by 5 percent. Read.
Vox - Thousands of teachers in Arizona showed up to school Wednesday wearing red. In Oklahoma, teachers prepared a list of demands for the governor. Educators in both states are energized from watching the success of the nine-day teachers strike in West Virginia. They say they're prepared to do the same. Read.
Rewire.News - Tax cuts for oil and gas giants have starved state coffers as teacher pay in West Virginia has stagnated. Senate President Mitch Carmichael has opposed any oil and gas tax increases that could be used to pay teachers decent wages. Read.
CNN - West Virginia schools closed for nine days as the state's teachers went on strike for higher wages and better benefits. Read.