What can I expect to be different if we organize?


Perhaps the easiest way to answer that is to compare the status of MATC part-time teachers before and after organizing (information provided by Frank Shansky of Local 212 at MATC):

Item Before organizing After organizing
Salary $19/ hr. For teaching hours only; no pay for prep. time; no credit for education Class and step salary structure; paid prep. time; pay increases of from 50 to 300% (that's not a typo)
Sick days None Pro rata with maximum accumulation to 640 hours
Paid professional leave None Up to 10 hours per year based on seniority
Health insurance None Optional; employer contributes 20% of premium
Life insurance None $10,000
Rights to full-time positions None 50% of full-time vacancies go to most senior qualified part-timer who applies
Seniority None Yes
Grievance procedure None Same as full-time faculty

Didn't MATC lose lots of part-time jobs after organizing?

  • There are fewer jobs now. W2 took some 6000 students out of school at MATC. The economy is good and unemployment is low - people are working rather than going to school. Which do you think had the largest impact on the number of part-time jobs?

Can WCTC afford to have a part-time union?

  • Waukesha County is a very rich district. The tax base continues to grow. There is no reason to think that paying everybody a fair salary would ruin the district. You are likely to hear that the "pie" is only so big. That's true, but it's a big pie, and right now there are lots of administrators feeding off it - at your expense. The number of administrative positions has mushroomed; part-time salaries surely have not.
  • WCTC prides itself on providing a quality education, and we believe it does. The full time faculty are compensated fairly for providing that quality. You are receiving from 40% to 60% less.  Is your work worth less?  Of course not!  Should your dedication to students be rewarded?  Naturally!