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Welcome to the Wisconsin Education Association Council!
WEAC members work hard to make Wisconsin’s public schools great. I should know, because I’ve been a member like you for more than 20 years. I’m looking forward to serving as WEAC president because of my commitment to the children we teach and respect for you, my fellow educators.
When union locals began organizing in schools throughout the state in the 1960s, Wisconsin’s schools had no set standards and many members earned so little they qualified for federal income assistance. “Pay equity” between male and female education employees did not exist as a term or a concept. We’ve come a long way since then.
Since the organization of educator unions and the formation of WEAC, Wisconsin’s public schools have become some of the best in the world. Wisconsin’s high school seniors have scored first or second in the nation on the ACT college entrance exam for 17 years running, and our state has one of lowest high school dropout rates every year. WEAC has now grown to more than 98,000 members, and includes Wisconsin public school teachers and education support professionals, retirees, technical college employees, state employees and student teachers.
We’re a strong union, and it’s time for us to build upon our existing strengths and undertake new initiatives. The strength of WEAC lies in the efforts of members working together to accomplish shared goals. Our great schools are among the best because they have great teachers and staff practicing their professions in our state’s classrooms. The improvements in Wisconsin’s schools and education professions have happened because WEAC members made them happen. WEAC members don’t complain about things, they change them.
The services and benefits you will read about in this book are made possible through the collective strength of WEAC members. I hope you will become active in our organization, at the state, UniServ and local levels. We have a chance to make significant changes in our schools. I’ve believed it from the start.
Sincerely,
Mary Bell
WEAC President
The Wisconsin Education Association Council represents the public policy, labor and professional interests of its 98,000 members. WEAC is a strong voice for its members and for the 865,000 children in Wisconsin public schools.
WEAC membership includes:
WEAC began as a statewide educational organization in 1853. For more than 100 years, membership included teachers and administrators. In the 1960s, following passage of a collective bargaining law for public employees, the Wisconsin Education Association evolved into a pro-active teachers union and in 1972 changed its name to the Wisconsin Education Association Council. It was involved in many teacher strikes during the late 1960s and 1970s. Following the bitter 1974 Hortonville teachers strike in which all 84 teachers were fired, the Legislature passed the mediation-arbitration law, creating a system for resolving contract disputes without strikes.
In 1993, the Wisconsin Legislature passed laws that weakened educators’ collective bargaining rights. Labor strife has returned to many communities. In the 1980s and early 1990s, WEAC expanded its membership to education support staff, as well as UW, technical college and State of Wisconsin education and information professionals.
WEAC: A History is a 102-page book detailing the union's history. The book was published in 2001 and is available online at http://www.weac.org/historybook/contents.htm.
Complete an enrollment form, which is distributed by members of local associations. This form is frequently distributed at special local meetings for new members or through building representatives.
Updated August 29, 2007
