State Employee Educator Union to Form Negotiations Action Committee
WEAC Council #1, an affiliate representing 750 educators
employed by the state of Wisconsin, is forming a negotiations action
committee to recommend possible protests regarding the state's failure
to bargain in good faith.
Council #1 members include, among others, teachers who work in correctional
institutions, mental health facilities, School for the Deaf, Wisconsin
Center for the Visually Handicapped and educators at the Department
of Public Instruction.
"This summer has been a complete waste of time," said Michael
Moore, director of Council #1. "The administration's team just
canceled two scheduled sessions and they have continued to drag their
feet. So we decided to be prepared to act if the situation warrants."
The state walked away from the table in April of 2004 for more than
a year and resumed negotiations in June of this year. The parties are
currently attempting to reach agreement for both the 2003-05 and 2005-07
contracts.
The committee will meet to discuss a timetable and course of action
for the next few months. "We will examine every legal means of
protest," Moore said.
"While this administration has done a commendable job supporting
the teachers and other education employees who work in our K-12 districts,
our members, who work for the State of Wisconsin, are angered by the
treatment afforded them. I guess there are two standards; one for the
educators in school districts and another for those who actually work
for the governor."
Posted September 16, 2005