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Teacher
minimum standards
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Teachers will seek annual raises that meet the cost
of living, and education support professionals will seek a “living
wage,” under recommended 2003-05 bargaining goals.
The goals were adopted in February by the WEAC Board
of Directors. They are the product of months of discussion by representatives
of local associations, UniServ staff and WEAC staff, working with the
Statewide Bargaining Goals Committee.
Since the Qualified Economic Offer law was enacted 10
years ago, WEAC members have lost 7% to inflation, said WEAC Collective
Bargaining Director Mike McNett. Wisconsin teacher salaries have fallen
from 13th in the nation in 1991-92 to 22nd last year.
“Over the last 10 years, inflation has outpaced
Wisconsin teacher salaries, and so have the salaries of other professions,
including those of teachers in other states,” said WEAC President
Stan Johnson. “Unless we stop this degradation of Wisconsin teacher
salaries, the teaching profession in Wisconsin – and our schools
– will be decimated. We are seeing many of our best teachers leaving
the profession, while the best and brightest college students steer away
from a future in education.
“We must not only stop this trend, we must reverse
it. And the only way to do that is to bargain contracts that restore respect
and fairness to the education professions in this state.”
Johnson cited a recent study indicating that one of
every seven general education teachers in Wisconsin left the profession
in 2000-01.
“It is very obvious that salary degradation hurts
teachers and education support professionals and their families. But let’s
not overlook the fact that the real losers here are the children –
who ultimately will receive a sub-par education – and the entire
state of Wisconsin.
“The strength of our economic future depends on
the quality of education we provide now to tomorrow’s professionals
and service workers.
“Wisconsin has built perhaps the best public education
system in the country. But we can’t rest on our laurels; and we can’t
take our past success for granted. Our system of successful schools is
in perilous danger of collapsing, as teacher and support staff salaries
continue to decline, while schools struggle for resources under school
district revenue controls.”
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Support staff
minimum standards
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WEAC locals are encouraged to do everything they can
at the bargaining table to protect and strengthen public education.
The statewide bargaining goals are guidelines for local associations as
they bargain their 2003-05 contracts, which take effect July 1, 2003.
As of early March, 90 local teacher associations still had not negotiated
contracts for the 2001-03 bargaining session.
WEAC Collective Bargaining Director Mike McNett said
much of the blame for the large number of unsettled 2001-03 contracts
rests with the QEO law, which has stripped teachers of their bargaining
rights.
Governor Jim Doyle has proposed to eliminate the QEO
law and restore fair collective bargaining, but legislative leaders are
resisting his proposal. Doyle’s proposal is included in his state
budget plan, which has moved to the Legislature. The budget schedule calls
for its completion by July 1.
“WEAC will work with the Doyle administration to
eliminate the QEO. Given the possibility of changes in the bargaining
environment, locals may choose to focus on seeking a fair bargaining law
and proceed cautiously at the table,” McNett said.
The new teacher bargaining goals also include no fringe
benefit losses; and bargaining WEA Insurance Trust long-term care insurance,
Elementary and Secondary Education Act issues, issues relating the new
teacher licensure law (known as PI 34); and local quality issues that
affect children and members.
The new education support professionals’ goals
seek a 3% per-cell wage increase, no loss in fringe benefit value, bargaining
of ESEA issues, and bargaining local quality issues that affect children
and members.
“Educators deserve a voice in education,”
McNett said. “They should participate in professional development.
They should help new educators succeed.
“It is important to make entry-level salaries competitive in order to attract the brightest and best to the profession and ensure that ESPs get a living wage.”
Posted March 7, 2003