Cost of Living Increases: Key Goal of 2003-05 Bargaining Goals

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.”

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