To "strike" or not to "strike"

Some teachers in our state were off job today.
They were protesting a 3.5 salary increase passed by the legislature.

We haven't had a real increase since 1990 and what they toted as an increase last year was not. It was money meant to offset a 23% INCREASE in insurance premiums. Many teachers made less than they did last year.

WV is ranked either 47 or 49th in teacher salaries (not sure which) and with the sad amount of emphasis here on education, there's no drive to remedy that situation. The governor only wanted us to have a 2.5 raise which would have been about a dollar a day. Thank you, but keep that slap in the face.

It is also ironic that while the senate was telling us that they had no money for raises they also passed a bill to raise their salaries 5,000.00 a year, making them one of the HIGHEST paid legislatures in the nation. The house skuttled it - thankfully.

So some counties planned a walk out.

Except:
They waited until the bill was already passed.
They waited until the legislature had already adjourned for the season.
The amount of disorganization in taking the vote would do Dubya's brain proud.

So not all counties took part in the walkout.
Many felt the associations had waited too late to make their move.
Many felt communication SUCKED.
Many just felt it would do no good.

Beginning teachers make below 30,000 a year and those with less than 30 years experience make less than 39,000 unless they have an advanced degree. Not sure of the pay scale there.

So...What did I do? Well, my school was out and the county eventually cancelled classes for the day. I fortunately didn't have to decide which line I would be on. Was away with kids today.

The sentiment here is that these outages hurt the kids. I ask this:
In 10 years 80% of WV's teachers are going to reach retirement age. We do NOT have teachers coming up to fill those positions. Teachers that ARE being trained in college are going elsewhere for work. Each of the 5 states that surround WV have starting salaries that are at least 10,000 more than WV.

Which hurts the kids more?To lose ONE DAY of instruction now or to lose their entire education in the future when qualified teachers can't be found?

And always the why oh why that anytime they do a news report on this issue they always, ALWAYS, have someone complaining about finding a baby sitter.