MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — “We’re tired of being last.” That was the overwhelming message at a rally for teachers and state employees against pay raises and health insurance increases Saturday afternoon in the parking lot outside of Buffalo Wild Wings on Foxcroft Avenue.
The demonstration was apart of an effort from teachers around the state and the Eastern Panhandle who are unhappy over Gov. Jim Justice’s proposed one-percent raise and is coming off the heels of a rally held in downtown Martinsburg last Saturday and “walk-in” demonstrations that took place in Jefferson County Schools Friday.
Gov. Justice said this past week that lawmakers are considering offering a two-percent increase.
Thomas Fletcher, a retired teacher in Berkeley County, spoke to the crowd and said two-percent wouldn’t be enough in order to compete with surrounding states.
“We’re so far behind the surrounding counties that we will have to have a long term deal and that’s what we need,” said Fletcher. “We need a long term solution to salaries in this state.”
Many politicians and representatives also spoke at the rally.
Berkeley County Delegate Jason Barrett told the crowd that the House Democrats plan to present an amendment to the Capitol this week.
“We have a plan to amend a bill on Monday that’s a three-percent pay raise each of the next three years,” said Barrett. “The plan from the Governor of one-percent for five years is just unacceptable.”
Barrett added that he hopes that the amendment can get passed but also acknowledged that there are 20 plus days left in the regular session in the legislator and they have some time to get to a solution.
Terri Young, President of the Jefferson County Schools Service Personnel, told WEPM that the issue isn’t just a “teacher” issue as state employees are affected as well. She said state employee groups from around the state are planning on demonstrating at the Capitol on February 17.
“They’re all going to be there,” she said. “They’re all going to rally and we’re all going to fight for all of us.”
After the crowd gathered to hear the speakers, demonstrators from teachers, state employees, and students lined up across Foxcroft Avenue with signs to gather support from those who drove by.
Trey Henry, a senior at Martinsburg High School who will be majoring in education at Fairmont State in the fall, said the rally is also about the future of the state.
“All of these people here today have lead me to want to become an educator so to be able to fight for raising their pay is awesome,” said Henry. “Especially when it helps me in the long run, it helps their kids, it will help my kids one day. Anything for the teachers.”
Many teachers and state employees from the Eastern Panhandle will be busing down to Charleston next Saturday for another rally.