Gov. Bevin questions intentions of teachers who called in sick to protest in Frankfort
Gov. Matt Bevin is criticizing teachers' intentions after hundreds of educators called in sick to protest education-related bills at the state Capitol earlier this year.
During an appearance Tuesday on the Brian Thomas Morning Show on WKRC Radio in Cincinnati, Bevin said the labor cabinet was correct when it declared that more than 1,000 teachers broke state law prohibiting work stoppages.
Hundreds of tTeachers called in sick to protest changes to three education-related bills at the state Capitol during the 2019 General Assembly, which forced several school districts to close throughout the state. Jefferson County Public Schools closed six times in a two-week period.
Bevin also questioned the teachers' motives, noting they did not return to Frankfort during last month's special legislative session.
"It's interesting, though, that people seem to most enjoy doing this—stopping work—when they get paid anyway," Bevin said. "But when they're not getting paid to stop work, it is remarkable—nobody seems to be that interested. They don't care quite as much."
The bill lawmakers passed during the special session only dealt with pensions for quasi-governmental organizations and regional universities.
"The same bill came forward again this summer when nobody was in school and nobody showed up," Bevin said. "When it's vacation time, people are a little less worked up, it seems."
The labor cabinet declined to fine the teachers for the sickouts but warned they could each be fined up to $1,000 next time.
The Kentucky Education Association was critical of the governor's comments, saying in a statement:
"Based on his comments, we can only assume that Gov. Bevin didn’t understand the pension legislation he and his staff wrote and dictated in detail to the General Assembly during the recent special session. Anyone who is familiar with that legislation knows that it was not the same bill educators protested a few months ago. Educators protest to influence governmental action that affects public schools and public school students, not to get out of work that they love and believe in. For the governor to suggest otherwise is, unfortunately, typical."