The showdown between teachers complaining about underfunding and neglect in St. Croix’s education system and the government has reached the courts, with a lawsuit filed against the American Federation of Teachers, Local 1826 (AFT STX) and its members who walked off the job last week.  The civil complaint, filed by the Department of Education, claims that the job action by teachers is prohibited by the terms of three collective bargaining agreements between the government and the union, all of which expired at the end of August — weeks before last week’s protest action. Nevertheless, government lawyers are arguing that the events of September 20 and 21 constitute a breach of the expired agreements, as well as a failure to act in good faith. The plaintiffs also allege that the action was in violation of Title 24 VIC Chapter 14, which places…