Meyer Asks Whitewater Board to Show Staff Respect

WEAC Vice President Terry Meyer Monday (February 25, 2002) asked the Whitewater School Board to show its staff respect and dignity by offering them at least a cost-of-living wage increase.

"I am not here tonight to admonish you as a school board for not settling with the Whitewater EA. But I am not here to beg you to either," Meyer said. "I am here to support the request of the WEA for a calm and reasonable consideration of the contract offers they have made. And to fairly report it to staff and the community. Without an open and honest exchange of ideas, bargains can only be adversarial – and we all know the consequences of that."

Whitewater is one of about 300 locals statewide still without a contract for 2001-03.

Meyer told the board that great schools require great staff.

"And in order to hire and retain great staff, you need to fairly compensate them.

"They are asking for a cost-of-living increase – an increase that recognizes their dedication and expertise, an increase that shows respect for what they do and affords them the dignity they deserve as employees," Meyer said.

"This bargain is not about money, it is about Great Schools - it is about respect and dignity."

Resource page on the Qualified Economic Offer law

Posted March 5, 2002