Submitted by Dave StempleTucker County Connections
Few things in life are more import than the education of our children, a fact that seems to have fallen on def ears when it comes to the governing body of our state as they proceed to cut benefits and fail to offer fair pay to the teachers and other public employees that fill that and other important roles in our daily lives.
Educational staff, public employees, and concerned citizens alike took to the courthouse square Thursday to vent their frustration while sporting signs declaring “Fund PEIA Now”, “Will work for health care”, “Stand up for your rights!”, along with many other well thought out and to the point slogans. The public protest was met with a warm reception from a majority of drivers as they honked horns well into the evening showing support.
Just what brought them out? It was primarily cuts to the states PEIA (Public Employees Insurance Agency) insurance program paired with lower than expected wage increases which are leaving West Virginia towards the bottom of the pay scale when it comes to educators. The simultaneous cuts to insurance and low pay raise mean that premiums continue to outpace wage increases resulting in even less money in the pockets of our already strapped hard working teachers and other public sector employees.
A quick look at educational salaries by state reveals that West Virginia with an average salary of $46,540.33 in the 2016-17 year places us firmly in 49th place with only four states below us and that figure includes higher paid administrators. While our state continues to increase taxes on licenses, vehicle registrations, tobacco, and many other services and products they continue to spend the money generated at an alarming rate while telling public employees there just simply isn’t enough to go around.