WV Legislature presents teachers with pay raise ultimatum: 4 percent over 3 years

In the latest salvo in negotiations over pay raises for teachers, school service personnel and other state employees, Senate and House leadership Tuesday evening were playing hardball, sending teachers a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum to accept a 2 percent pay raise this year, followed by two 1 percent annual pay increases (Senate Bill 267).

House and Senate leaders called for teachers to accept the proposal, which would amount to a three-year, 4 percent raise, as opposed to 5 percent overall raises advanced by the House of Delegates on Feb. 13 and in a plan initially backed by the Senate, and called on them not to stage a statewide walkout beginning Thursday.

The measure passed the Senate 27-6 Tuesday evening and was sent back to the House, which concurred in a 59-37 vote after more than two hours of discussion, passing the bill and sending it to Gov. Jim Justice.