WCTC Part-Time United Faculty

Your Legal Rights

Wisconsin was the first state to grant public employees the right to support, to form, and to join into collective groups for the purpose of representation and collective bargaining.

Wisconsin law guarantees public sector employees the right to form and to join a labor organization of the employees' choice, with no interference from employers. It is entirely the employees' decision to make.

Wisconsin Statute 111.70 makes it unlawful for an employer to "interfere with, restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of their rights" to self-organization, to form, join or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively and to engage in lawful concerted activities.

Specifically, you have the legal right to. . .

  • Decline to discuss any aspect of the campaign with any supervisor
  • Decline to answer any questions asked by the employer about the campaign effort or the union
  • Attend informational meetings on or off campus
  • Discuss the campaign with any of your part-time or full-time colleagues, any time outside of your class time
  • Show your support for the organizing effort
  • Ask questions of full-time faculty or other WCTC employees
  • Openly support (or oppose) the Union
  • Encourage your colleagues to support the effort
  • Join the campaign committee

Who does the term "Employer" cover?

  • The term "employer" includes all management personnel: your immediate associate dean, the dean of your division, the College vice presidents and president, employees of the personnel department, and WCTC board members.

Here's what a supervisor/employer cannot legally do:

  • Four (4) general categories of supervisor behavior are ILLEGAL; these are sometimes referred to as "TIPS", an acronym for

Threaten Interrogate Promise Spy

  • That is, a supervisor, or employer, cannot Threaten, Interrogate, Promise or Spy on any employees, during a campaign, or at any time.

Specifically . . . a supervisor cannot legally:

  • Threaten to reduce operations or benefits if employees form into a union
  • Say that forming a union will force the College to lay off employees or will result in benefits or privileges presently enjoyed being taken away
  • Legally discriminate against union supporters when assigning work
  • Discharge, discipline or lay off any employee for supporting the union
  • Visit an employee's home to urge her/him not to support the union
  • Ask employees about confidential union matters, meetings, mailings, etc.
  • Ask employees what they think about the union, or the campaign
  • Ask employees how they intend to vote
  • About his/her present or past connection with unions
  • Promise or give employees wage increases or special breaks to keep the union out
  • Attend any organizational meetings or conduct any kind of surveillance to observe who does attend
  • Start or support circulation of any petition against the union
  • Urge employees to try to convince other employees to remain neutral or oppose the union

Here's what a supervisor/employer can legally do:

  • Share factual information about your and others wages, benefits, and working conditions
  • Inform you about the election process
  • Tell you his/her views of unions
  • Tell you his/her preferences and attitudes toward unions


While we do not anticipate any interference or improper actions by WCTC, knowledge of the law and your rights is important information for everyone to have!


Our Vision

  • Give Part-Time Faculty a voice in WCTC
  • Advocate for Part-Time Faculty's professional needs and issues
  • Work hand-in-hand, cooperatively with the Full-Time Faculty union, the WCTEA
  • Negotiate a contract for Part-Time Faculty
  • Give Part-Time Faculty the benefit of WEAC and NEA=s political strength

Overview of the Process

  1. A core group indicates interest in creating a united organization.

  2. Show of Interest Cards are collected by the organizing committee.
  3. WCTEA and WEAC petition the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC) for the election.
  4. WCTEA/WEAC, College and WERC agree on who is eligible to vote, who makes up the group; time and location/s of the election.
  5. Election is held by secret ballot; all eligible employees can vote; the ballots are immediately counted on election day.
  6. If the majority of those who vote support the formation of the union, the organization exists.
  7. New organization can begin negotiations with the College about wages, hours and working conditions for part-time faculty of WCTC.

WCTC Part-Time United Faculty

Jeannie Lehmann, Coordinator
Phone: 414-251-1756
E-mail: Lehmannj@WEAC.org