Chanin calls for '21st century collective bargaining strategy'

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Members of the NEA and its affiliates, including WEAC, must develop and aggressively market "a 21st century collective bargaining strategy" that reflects "our vision of education reform," NEA General Counsel Bob Chanin told about 500 WEAC members in Appleton February 27-29 for the WEAC Winter Conference.

While promoting reform, this strategy would distinguish education policies from terms and conditions of employment. But its promotion of education reform would demonstrate that NEA members are innovative and creative and "not wedded to the status quo." And, he said, it would provide the following answer to a lingering basic question:

"Yes, collective bargaining and education reform are fully compatible."

Chanin was the keynote speaker at the conference, which included training sessions in a wide variety of areas, including classroom management techniques, communications, and union leadership.

In another General Session address, WEA Trust Executive Vice President Fred Evert outlined the changing landscape of health care and health insurance and forewarned members that more changes are on the way.

For WEA Trust plans, that means policies will steer subscribers to health care providers who have made agreements to be part of a WEA Trust network of providers. This "steerage" will involve:

Agreements that reimburse claims from network providers more generously than from non-network providers.
Office call co-pays for use of non-network providers.
"Meaningful, reasonable and customary" fee schedules for non-network providers.

Evert said the WEA Trust is addressing these changes by adopting the basic philosophy that it will "keep what is best, and let go of the rest." For subscribers, he said, that means:

You will continue to have high-quality, comprehensive coverage.
Your health plan will look different than it does now.
Older plan designs with lower enrollments will be phased out.
Costly, inefficient health/drug plan options will be phased out.

These changes may cause pain for some members and friction in some locals, but there is no choice, he said. They are necessary and are best for everyone in the long run.

"Change is always difficult," Evert said. "There are no easy solutions left."

In another General Session event, three of Wisconsin's top political observers shared their thoughts on subjects ranging from the presidential race to the U.S. Senate race and potential for changes in the State Legislature. Among their comments:

Jim Wood, founder of Wood Communications Group, a Madison public relations firm, said politics has shifted from a "come join us" approach to a "can you hear me now?" approach, which is more confrontational and less intellectual. In this context, he said, education is sacrosanct and teachers are popular, but the teachers' union is "fair game" as a target in the negative political debate.
Jeff Mayers, founder of WisPolitics.com, said Republicans are going after Governor Doyle on the property tax issue with their proposed property tax freeze and a proposed constitutional amendment to limit government spending. He said national Republicans are focused on winning Wisconsin for George W. Bush in November; he would give the edge at this point to Sen. Russ Feingold for winning re-election; and things "don't look good" for Democrats to take control of the State Senate. Democrats' best hope, he said, is to pick up some seats in the Assembly and keep the Legislature veto-proof for their governor.
Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council and former editorial page editor for the Wisconsin State Journal, noted that Wisconsin went with Republican Richard Nixon in 1960, 1968 and 1972 and Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980 and 1984, but has since voted for the Democratic presidential candidates - Michael Dukakis in 1988, Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996, and Al Gore in 2000. "It will be a difficult state for Republicans to pick up in 2004," Still said. He said Feingold has the advantage for re-election but it won't be easy. Still also said he would be surprised to see any change in control of either house of the State Legislature.

Ron Schultz, Kenosha bargaining team win Bierbrauer Awards

Posted March 1, 2004