I support union representation because I believe in fairness. As part-time faculty, our responsibility for providing quality education to our students is great. Unfortunately we are not fairly compensated for the time we spend meeting with students, preparing for our classes and for our other college responsibilities. Part-time faculty receive no benefits, no pension, no sick leave. Union representation will give us the opportunity to negotiate pay equity and improvements in our working conditions and benefits.
Rudi Hosni, Part-time Instructor, Electronics
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In the three years I have worked for WCTC, I’ve witnessed high turnover of part-time instructors in the adult basic education area. This causes a lack of continuity for our customer, the student. I believe the turnover rate would lessen if part-time instructors were provided career growth opportunities. That’s why I support the union organization effort.
Helen Snyder, Part-time Instructor, Workplace Education and Adult Basic Education
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I’ve been a part-time instructor at WCTC for many years. Voting for the union is an opportunity for which many of us have been waiting a long time. Voting for the union is the only way we can obtain fair and equitable wages and working conditions. Because of the makeup of the voting group, some of my colleagues who teach night classes have been excluded from voting. My vote for the union is so that all part-time faculty can have a voice at WCTC.
Marge Morris. Part-time Instructor, Accounting
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I believe joining the WCTEA will give us a voice on the issues that are most important to us. Part-time teachers currently get no benefits whatsoever. I believe part-time faculty should receive pay when classes are canceled because they fall on a holiday or because of inclement weather. Adequate compensation for inservice training would help insure part-time faculty participation. Other areas that are important are the cost of recertification and contributions to the retirement system. We get paid less than full-time faculty, receive no benefits, but students currently pay the same rate to be taught by a part-timer as they would to be taught by a full-timer. Part-time faculty are an important part of the college and should be treated fairly.
Rick Nicolai, Part-time Instructor, Math
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On a REAL hours worked basis, I earn only a small FRACTION of the wages of a full-time, unionized WCTC instructor, and do not receive any benefit package. Certainly the wealthiest vocational-technical school district in Wisconsin can not only AFFORD but has a MORAL OBLIGATION to recognize that part-time instructors whose work, qualifications and experience are comparable to full-time instructors deserve equal pay for equal work! Join me in voting "yes" for the part-time teacher's union!
Andrea Frank, B.S., M.S., AB.D., Part-Time Instructor, Community Health Education
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My fellow part-time teachers, I encourage you to vote in the upcoming representation election and to vote for the union because a union will give us a common voice to address our common problems. As PT teachers we have no assurance that we will get work in a semester. Often we work many hours preparing courses without compensation or with partial pay. Another problem is lack of support services, work space, and storage for pt teachers. Please vote for union representation so we can address these problems.
Jeanie Dean, Part-time Instructor, Business Technology
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As part-time instructors, we all share a common goal - providing the best education to our students. And that means working far more hours than we are paid for, often with minimal or no access to support services. Through unity with our full-time colleagues in the WCTEA, we will have a strong voice - a voice for making decisions about the programs that we teach, a voice for respect and recognition of the value we bring to the college, a voice for enhancing our professional competence. Unity, fairness, respect, and a meaningful voice – that’s what WCTEA representation means to me.
Jeannie Lehmann, Part-time Instructor, Adult Basic Education