CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s two largest teachers’ unions have officially merged into one.
The West Virginia Education Association (WVEA) and the American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia (AFT-WV) combined forces effective Sept. 1, creating a new statewide union called Education West Virginia.
Delegates from the two former West Virginia teachers’ unions voted on March 29, 2025 to join together with the Sept. 1, 2025 merger date. According to union’s website, the merger was in the works for several years and is the first statewide merger of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA):
“This was a thoughtful, deliberative process that has been almost three years in the making, seeking to build on the strengths of the former organizations while also building a stronger union moving forward. This merger is also the first statewide merger of AFT and NEA affiliates in a non-collective bargaining state. “
Education West Virginia
The new union says it is committed to advocating for Mountain State educators to enable them to deliver “high quality” education to students.
“Education West Virginia is dedicated to advocating for education professionals, working to ensure they have the resources, support and conditions necessary for providing a high quality education for West Virginia’s students.”
Education West Virginia
For more information, visit Education West Virginia online.
