WEAC Challenges QEO Calculations

WEAC went to the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission in October to continue its long-running battle against the Qualified Economic Offer law.

WEAC argued at a hearing that the QEO costing method used by the Maple Dale/Indian Hills, Big Foot, and Prairie du Chien school districts is illegal.

WEAC charged the districts failed to include Act 11 credits in QEO calculations. (Act 11 is the law that improves the state retirement system.) The union argued that a sum of money equal to the Act 11 credits that can be allocated to teacher bargaining units must be added to the salary schedule.

WEAC also challenged the school districts’ approach to “rolling back” salaries or step increments when the QEO’s 3.8% salary and benefits level is not enough to maintain salaries or pay for step increments.

WEAC argued that each individual should move on the schedule in the normal fashion, and if necessary, the amount paid at a given step would be prorated.

“The existing salary schedule structure and the relationship between steps and lanes must be maintained,” according to WEAC Legal Counsel Tony Sheehan.

Posted October 28, 2002