West Virginia teachers strike in protest of school choice

West Virginia teachers launched their second strike in a year on Tuesday to protest legislation that, among other things, would create the state’s first charter schools. The unions view the legislation as lacking their input and see it as retaliation for last year’s nine-day strike. After that strike, the state agreed to give teachers a 5 percent raise, and Republican Gov. Jim Justice promised an additional 5 percent this year, which is included in the legislation that the unions oppose.

All but one of the state’s 55 counties closed its schools Tuesday. How long the strike lasts will be a day-to-day decision, leaders of three unions for teachers and school workers said. The contentious bill passed the Senate Monday and is headed to the House of Delegates. Since West Virginia’s first strike nearly a year ago, Arizona, Denver, Kentucky, Los Angeles, Oklahoma, and Washington state have all seen teachers walk off the job.