Prairie du Chien negotiating team members (left to right) Jane Yeomans-Petrowitz, Jeff Riter, Pat Urbach and Nancy Trautsch receive a Crystal Apple Award for their union work.

Members of the Prairie du Chien negotiating team received recognition from their peers Wednesday (May 5, 2004) after persevering an especially contentious bargaining session.

Team members Nancy Trautsch, Pat Urbach, Jane Yeomans-Petrowitz, David Antoniewicz and Jeff Riter received Crystal Apple Awards during a recognition ceremony at the SWEA building in Platteville. The awards are sponsored by SWEA and the Horace Mann Companies, and organized by SWEA's Public Relations Committee.

"This is the toughest bargaining I've seen a group have to endure," South West Education Association Director LeRoy Roberts said. "Their local union is really holding together because of this team."

Roberts said the team helped Prairie du Chien members cope with substantial layoffs, uncooperative administrators and more than a dozen prohibitive practice lawsuits. "They’ve really been through the grind," he said.

The team helped build solidarity among Prairie du Chien members by encouraging them to wear certain colors to school on specific days, attend school board meetings and place signs with messages of support in their car windows.

Four other SWEA members also received Crystal Apple Awards during the ceremony. They are:

• Will Janssen, negotiations chair for the Mount Horeb Education Association. Janssen was honored for his work negotiating an outstanding contract for MHEA members.
  
  
• Romona Jones, member of the Seneca Education Association. Jones was recognized for her commitment to the SEA. She served as the association's head negotiator for 10 years.
  
  
• Joyce Matthews, member of the Iowa Grant Education Association. Matthews received a Crystal Apple Award for her dedication to the union. She has served as a local negotiations team member, treasurer, vice president and president; SWEA Board, PR Committee and Member Rights Committee member; and as a delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly. "There are a lot of rewards to union work," Matthews said when accepting her award. "It feels good to settle a contract when it's hard fought."
  
  
• Dennis Wirth, member of the Darlington Education Association. Wirth was honored for his work with his local's negotiations team.

SWEA also recognized community members who have made significant contributions to children and public education with Friend of Education Awards during the event.

Posted May 6, 2004