Democratic Lawmakers Say Raises are a Focus for Guards and Teachers

The West Virginia Legislature’s minority Democratic leaders said the state needs to raise pay for jail and prison guards, teachers and other public workers as priorities. Addressing the West Virginia Press Association, Sen. Tim Miley said the guards are a particular concern. In December, Gov. Jim Justice authorized using the National Guard to help oversee juvenile and adult lockups. Miley said a guard from his district tells him corrections officials are now hiring new personnel with misdemeanor convictions. There are also concernts that teachers are looking at about $800 in higher monthly insurance costs that dwarf a proposed 1 percent pay raise worth about $34.