QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT THE

WCTEA RE-ORGANIZING PROJECT

October, 1997

1. What are the WCTEA's goals?

The WCTEA's goal is to be the representative of all of WCTC's professional educators. Specifically, our goal is for all teaching, counseling and related work considered WCTEA bargaining unit work; and for all teaching and related professional work to be performed by WCTC professional employees in one of two bargaining units:

  • One group consisting of all employees working 50% or more;
  • the other group consisting of all employees working under 50%.

The WCTEA's goal is a College where decisions are made on educational bases; not on whether the decision puts work in or out of the WCTEA.

The WCTEA's goal is a healthier, happier place to work and teach.

2. Why are we doing this campaign?

  • To establish that all the work that WCTEA members perform and may perform in the future: day, evening, credit, non-credit, traditional/alternative delivery, instructional support - is all WCTEA bargaining unit work; and
  • To allow for the formation of a sister unit representing all of the faculty who work less than 50%.

3. Why are we doing this right now?

  • We can file for a new election [to form a new, re-structured group, and a new part-time group] only during the 60 days that precede the date that negotiations are to begin for the next contract. That date is March 15, 1998; so we must file between January 15 and March 14, 1998.

4. What do we see as the benefits of this re-organization?

  • It will eliminate having to distinguish if work is Day or Evening; Credit or Non-Credit; Teaching or Not Teaching; Bargaining Unit Work or Not Bargaining Unit Work, diminishing the divisions, separations, categorizations that now exist.
  • It is . . . Clearer; Cleaner; More logical
  • It doesn't have leaks/holes, with some EMPLOYEES represented; some not. Some WORK represented; some not. As a result, we believe there will be fewer disagreements and fewer grievances.

5. Can the WCTEA make this change if the College doesn't agree?

  • YES! This change CAN take place. WE as a group can make it happen. We have the right--under our Wisconsin law that gives us the right to form into a union--to form and re-form our organization, if the majority of the membership votes to do so.

6. What is involved?

  • The change is done by filing a petition for a new election with the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC) to re-organize "who you are;" who makes up your group, the WCTEA. It is the same process we used in 1973 to form our existing WCTEA.
  • Commitment from the majority that support this change and will vote to be represented by restructured WCTEA

TARGET DATE: November 7, 1997

  • Commitment of WCTEA members to help inform and educate our part-time colleagues to form into their own bargaining unit; get a majority of them to sign cards.

TARGET DATE: December 15, 1997

  • File 2 petitions with WERC to have new elections/new bargaining units. This must be done during a "window period," which is the 60 days before the date negotiations starts for the next contract: Jan 15-March 15, 1998.

TARGET DATE: January 15, 1998

  • If disputes about which positions belong in/out, belong in which group, WERC holds hearings and determines.

TARGET DATES: February-June, 1998

  • Elections are held. YOU vote!

TARGET DATE: May or Early Fall, 1998

  • New units are now formed - bargaining as the new group/s begins.

TARGET DATE: Fall, 1998

7. What happens to negotiations for our next contract?

  • Negotiations will be on hold until the reorganization process is complete, i.e., until after elections, unless the College and WCTEA agreed otherwise. This means we will probably begin the 1998-99 school year without a new contract. Expiring Side Agreements that are just for this school year - such as the Campus Day - could evaporate during the interim, if the College chooses that. However, once the two new groups are formed, negotiations with each new group would begin. Our existing contract would serve as our base, as always.

8. What voting "yes" means

  • Voting "yes" means that the WCTEA will continue to be the organization representing the professional employees and work at WCTC. WCTEA will consist of two units, based on the amount the educator works: 50% and over making up a group; and all the less-than-50% together as one group.
  • The limitation that we represent "day credit classes" only will be deleted.

9. What voting "no" means:

  • Voting "no" means that we would have no organizational structure to establish and maintain our contract. With no WCTEA, we would have no contract, no negotiations. Each individual would be on his/her own re. wages, working conditions, benefits, work procedures.

10. Why didn't we take this action sooner?

  • The WCTEA spent the past three years trying to broaden the scope of the WCTEA through voluntary agreement with the College, without invoking the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC). We are at this juncture now so the plan is . . .

"A NEW DAY...A NEW WAY...A NEW WCTEA!"


Please support the WCTEA in this effort through a pledge of time, as well as your "yes" vote!