Hundreds Rally in Support of Neenah Teachers

More than 400 Neenah teachers and their supporters rallied Tuesday (January 8, 2002) and then converged on a school board meeting to protest their unfair treatment at the bargaining table.

Joined by WEAC President Stan Johnson, WEAC Vice President Terry Meyer and many other supporters from throughout the state, the Neenah Education Association members carried signs and chanted slogans to draw attention to their plight.

The event drew extensive radio, television and newspaper media coverage, including a prominent article in Wednesday's Appleton Post-Crescent, which quoted several participants, including teacher Bob Totten. "I think we're worth more than what we're getting right now," Totten said.

Neenah teachers have been engaged for weeks in what is becoming a high-profile battle for respect. They are making a point of the fact that all they are asking is to keep up with the cost of living, but they can’t even get that from their school board.

“It’s apparent to us that the Board of Education does not value our professional efforts,” said Al Grasley, a negotiator for the Neenah Education Association.

Since the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO) law was imposed in 1993, Neenah’s 475 teachers have lost 6.1% to the cost of living. It’s a situation that affects their everyday lives. They can buy fewer groceries for their families, take fewer vacations, and even had to cut back again this year on Christmas presents.

Now, however, Neenah teachers are taking a stand. They are making it clear that they no longer are willing to accept a contract that causes their salaries to fall further behind. In a district with high academic achievement, they believe they deserve much more respect than they are getting.

Neenah teachers – like teachers in 322 other school districts in the state – have been working without a contract since June.

To stand up for themselves, to protest their treatment, and to draw attention to their plight, they have engaged in informational picketing at school board meetings and distributed brochures outside parent-teacher conferences. They have resigned from 600 voluntary committee assignments, and are wearing buttons to demonstrate their solidarity.

Neenah teachers are worried about the impact of low salary increases on their lives and on their families, but they are also very concerned about the long-term impact of low teacher salaries on the quality of education in the community.

“The most important factor in a student’s achievement is the quality of his or her teacher,” Grasley said. “When compensation lags, districts are unable to retain and attract new teachers to work in the school system.”

Even though teacher salaries have slipped every year since 1993, NEA members are not asking to get back what they have already lost to inflation. All they want is to ensure that they don’t fall any further behind, Grasley said.

The board, however, is publicly distorting and exaggerating teacher pay raises by portraying step increases as part of the cost-of-living compensation. NEA members are quick to point out that step increases are built into the salary schedule to recognize the value of additional experience and educational attainment and to compensate for extremely low starting salaries. Across-the-board cost-of-living raises are completely separate.

The NEA has documented that the district has the money needed to provide fair salary increases. The district has a $10 million fund balance that is so large it created a new “tax stabilization fund” from extra “excess revenues,” according to the NEA. In addition, the board has cut its property tax levy in half since 1993.

With that as the backdrop, Tuesday's vociferous display of frustration and unity took on enormous significance for many particpants.

WEAC President Stan Johnson said the future of quality education in Neenah hangs in the balance as underpaid and underappreciated veteran teachers retire or leave for private-sector jobs and quality young people are discouraged from entering the profession. "At stake is not just a matter of pay for a few individuals," he said.

WEAC Vice President Terry Meyer said the rally "emphasizes the persistence and determination of the Neenah teachers to achieve a contract that is dignified and acknowledges the great work they do for the students of Neenah and their community."

"What they are doing here adds to the growing chorus that says in order to have Great Schools you need to be able hire and retain great staff. You can only do that with contracts that recognize the quality work our teachers and support staff do," said Meyer, who not only represented WEAC at the event but also Kewaunee, where he teaches. The Kewaunee Education Association, which has adopted WEAC's Statewide Bargaining Goals, is also engaged in difficult contract negotiations.

WEAC-Fox Valley Executive Director Roger Palek said Neenah teachers are taking a strong public stand in unity with their collegues throughout the state.

"This is a true grassroots rebellion against the QEO," Palek said. "The participation and support of many of the WEAC family has gone a long ways towards re-energizing our members to continue the fight."

For more information, go to the Neenah Education Association Web site at: www.neenahea.org.

Resource page on the Qualified Economic Offer law

Posted January 11, 2002