West Virginia teachers to hold walkout on Thursday and Friday

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) — Teachers across West Virginia will hold a walkout Thursday and Friday as a response to the West Virginia legislature's inaction on PEIA and teacher pay.

The decision to hold the walkout was announced Saturday by the American Federal of Teachers-West Virginia and the West Virginia Education Association at a rally at the West Virginia State Capitol complex. Around 10,000 teachers and state workers from around the state braved the rain and cold to attend the rally in front of the West Virginia Capitol Saturday afternoon.

Among the crowd, you could see lots of handmade signs and people wearing bunny ears. Teachers said the bunny ears are a reference to comments Gov. Jim Justice made at a recent town hall meeting.

"We're a bunch of dumb bunnies, and we felt that is a response to what we are hearing from our Senate minority and delegate minority leaders who are really choosing to fight for us. I think that was a statement saying to not believe everything we are hearing But what we are hearing is No, over and over again," Harrison County teacher Christina Murphy said.

Union leaders said their negotiations with legislators are going nowhere, which has led to the first statewide walkout.

"We have to make sure change comes," American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia President Christine Campbell said.

Many teachers and service workers feel they have no more options.

On Friday, teachers from seven counties flooded the West Virginia Capitol expressing their outrage over increased health costs and low pay.

Due to the walkout, there could be no school on Feb. 22 and 23 if county superintendents decide to cancel classes.

The governor's office has yet to comment on the planned walkout.