The WEAC Board of Directors has approved new statewide bargaining goals for teachers and education support professionals. The goals are guidelines for local associations as they bargain contracts.

The WEAC Bargaining Goals Committee developed the 2005-2007 goals.

“Bargaining goals are important, but ultimately they are dependent upon the strategies applied to achieve those goals,” teacher co-chair of the Bargaining Goals Committee Matt Kranich said. “In line with the spirit of the Great Schools Statewide Action Plan, this year’s goals emphasize the core values of collective bargaining.”

Kranich said UniServ and local association input into the process was crucial.

“Their feedback and support of ideas was instrumental in formulating the final goals,” he said.

Kranich added that in most years, the bargaining goals have focused on minimum standards.

“This year, you may notice the term ‘action’ appears three times on the bargaining goals sheet,” he said. “That was not by accident.”

The teacher goals focus on three areas: minimum settlement standards, coordination and member engagement, and long-term aspirations.

“Bargaining coordination and member engagement are two key elements of the goals,” WEAC Collective Bargaining Director Mike McNett said. “We can accomplish little without collaboration between our locals and member involvement in these crucial areas.”

“Our committee brainstormed what was most important for members,” said Kay Hansen, ESP co-chair of the WEAC Bargaining Goals Committee. “We hope members will incorporate these goals as they bargain their contracts.”

Hansen said a living wage is a minimal standard that most ESP members do not achieve.

“Right now, the living wage is approximately $11.50 per hour,” she said. “I doubt that many ESP members make that kind of money. We have a long road ahead of us.”

Hansen said the goals also call for members to participate in coordinated bargaining councils, and for members to collaborate and work together in bargaining.

Beyond salaries and benefits
Both plans call for members to participate in WEAC’s Great Schools Statewide Action Plan as well as propose and bargain local quality issues affecting children and members.

Under the heading, “Goals are Obtained Through Action,” the teacher bargaining goals call on locals to:

• Conduct a member survey of bargaining priorities to guide bargaining proposals.
  
  
• Engage members through constant communication (meetings, newsletters, e-mail, etc.).
  
  
• Actively participate in a Coordinated Bargaining Council and the Great Schools Statewide Action Plan.
  
  
• Implement appropriate job actions if decision-makers refuse a fair settlement.

Long-term aspirations
Under the heading, “Long-Term Aspirations,” the teacher plan lists:

• Raise teacher starting pay to the highest among Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio. Wisconsin is currently next to last on that list.
  
  
• Compress salary schedules to increase career earnings.
  
  
• Restructure salary schedules to include pay increases based on PI 34 licensure level.

ESP long-term goals
Under the heading “Long-Term Goals,” the ESP bargaining goals call for:

• District-paid training, relevant to work assignment, for all members.
  
  
• A guarantee that all members have a work environment safe from workplace and student-based hazards.
  
  
• Elimination of subcontracting of bargaining unit work.

ESP member engagement
Under the heading, “Engage Members in a Coordinated Approach to Bargaining,” the ESP goals call for locals to:

• Actively participate in a Coordinated Bargaining Council and the Great Schools Statewide Action Plan.
  
  
• Communicate regularly with members using a survey of bargaining priorities, building meetings, newsletters, e-mail, and other informational means to keep members engaged in the collective bargaining process.
  
  
• Develop a local strategy and take steps to move district decision-makers toward a favorable settlement.
  
  
• Not use total package costing (it is not a requirement of the law for ESP).
  
  
• Keep employee wage and benefit structures uniform for all current and future employees.

Both bargaining goals documents can be found on the OnWEAC Members Only site under "Bargaining & Research."