Marion County teachers protest against pay, insurance premiums

Feb. 23--FAIRMONT -- As the bell rang signifying the beginning of a school day, teachers and school service personnel across the county were holding sessions outside rather than inside, as school was closed in Marion County, and they were instead educating the public.

Their plan is to show the people what West Virginia Legislature has been doing to their rights as public employees, with insurance premiums rising faster than their current salary can keep up with.

And for some of these workers, the fact that this is the second time they're seeing this has them at a loss for words.

"The similarities are we still aren't getting support from Charleston," Connie Pirner, a teacher at Barrackville Elementary who was part of the 1990 teacher strike, said. "It's the disrespect, the lack of concern for our families."

Of the problems with West Virginia legislature they are currently protesting against, the teachers mentioned their 4 percent pay raise over three years being unable to make up the difference with rising insurance premiums with Public Employee Insurance Agency as only the first insult.

"We made strides in 1990, and by 2018 everything we had gained is gone," said David Reed, a teacher at Barrackville Elementary who was also part of the 1990 strike. "It's still the same, there's no respect. There's no respect for education in this state and that hasn't changed."

These issues point to a bigger problem in the stigma of public schooling, that the teachers find to be negatively affecting the students they are educating.

"I'm more sad than mad," Pirner said. "It really shows that the legislature isn't taking the future of our state seriously, and that's what scares me."

While the teachers have lost faith in the legislature's stance on the issue, the community has shown that it, too, sympathizes with the plight of the teachers and public workers, according to Pirner.

"We had parents drop off food all morning," she said.

The protestors had boxes of food and drinks lined up underneath tents outside the school, much of it coming from parents, they said.

"People know what we do for our children and want to support us," said Paula Wiley, a teacher at Barrackville Elementary who was also part of the 1990 strike.

As car horns honked and drivers waved, the educators informed that they wouldn't be going anywhere soon.

"We'll be here as long as it takes," said Teresa Sestito, a teacher at West Fairmont Middle School, where workers had also gathered for an informational picket.

Teachers and service personnel from Pleasant Valley Elementary and East Fairmont High School gathered for an informational picket Thursday morning on Airport Road.

Even a kindergarten student from Pleasant Valley Elementary, Nicki Pleyo, stood with his mom, Bethany Pleyo, a teacher at East Fairmont High School, supporting the teachers of Marion County.

"He was so excited to get out and hold that sign," Bethany said.

With the goal of raising awareness of the importance of funding PEIA and a salary increase, Cochran said the plan for today is to participate in the county-wide rally from 7:30-10:30 a.m. on the Gateway Connector.

"All of Marion County is planning on gathering there, so it would be nice to do that and then come back here and continue picketing," Cochran said.

While the workers were ready to plant themselves in for the day, they had the support of Gary Price, superintendent of Marion County Schools. He explained that the days schools are closed as part of the stoppage would be made up in June.

"We're hoping that the legislature hears what they're saying and we don't have to keep the stoppage for too long," Price said.

AFT-WV staff representative Frank Caputo reported from Charleston and said that the halls of the Capitol are as full as he has ever seen.

"Everybody's fired up and they expect PEIA and to have a fair pay raise," Caputo said. "If he (Mitch Carmichael) thinks this is about the unions, he better take a look at the organic movement that is going on in this state."

Marion County AFT-WV vice president Stacey Strawderman spent Thursday in Charleston with her fellow West Virginia teachers and service personnel rallying for their cause. She said she would guess there was about 75-100 Marion County representatives at the rally.

"I think they (legislation) will decide by tomorrow afternoon," Strawderman said. "After talking to our legislators from our area here today, they think we ought to keep the pressure on. They heard comments today from others who think that we are going to go away, I think they are wrong. We are going to keep it up just after what I saw today."

Strawderman said that she heard about the community support in Marion County throughout the rest of the county's efforts in picketing and "truly appreciated it."

"I know that a lot of our businesses has been supporting our teachers," Strawderman said. "It's so heartwarming to see the community's support. There's a lot of support across the state. That's going to make a difference."

Email Kaitlyn Neff at kneff@timeswv.com and follow her on Twitter at @kneffTWV.

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