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Excerpt
The statewide public school employees strike that began last Thursday will continue today, despite state-level union leaders’ call for workers to return to schools today following a new proposal from the governor.
As of 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, all 55 counties had announced their public schools would be closed today.
Tuesday’s post-6 p.m. proposal by Gov. Jim Justice and union leaders to end the strike today went over like a lead balloon with many school employees, and it was clear by Wednesday evening that many workers weren’t in favor of returning to work yet.
About 40 counties announced closures from 7:30-10:40 p.m. Wednesday, with others announcing the closures earlier in the day.
“We believe the best course of action at this time is to return to school tomorrow, however we realize that not everyone will,” said Dale Lee, president of the West Virginia Education Association union, in a joint news conference with other union leaders around 6 p.m. He said the unions will support their members, regardless.
