Governor Signs 2001-03 Contracts for Council #1 Members
WEAC Council #1 President Paul Gulgowski speaks with Governor Doyle
after the governor signs the 2001-03 state employee contract, which
was held up by the Legislature for several months. Also attending the
signing ceremony is Council #1 Vice President Margaret Done (left) and
WEAC Vice President Terry Meyer (not pictured).
Approximately 35,000 state employees, including Council #1 WEAC members,
now have contracts for 2001-2003.
On May 7, Governor Jim Doyle signed the contracts
following months of delay. WEAC Vice President Terry Meyer joined Council
#1 President Paul Gulgowski and Vice President Margaret Done at the
signing.
The Republican-controlled Joint Committee on Employment
Relations rejected the contracts last winter.
Last week, the committee and both houses of the Legislature
approved the contracts.
“Gov. Doyle righted a wrong when he signed the
long-delayed state employee union contracts,” WEAC Executive Director
Michael A. Butera said. “Even in difficult fiscal times, the state
has an obligation to treat its employees fairly and respectfully.”
Butera called on the Legislature to recognize the
contributions made by state employees as it considers the 2003-2005
state budget.
“We will work to see that the budget balances
the need to eliminate the deficit with the need to preserve essential
state services to school districts and communities provided by state
government employees,” he said.
The contracts provide pay raises of 1% retroactive
to July 1, 2001; 2% retroactive to June 30, 2002; and 2.5%, effective
April 6, 2003.
WEAC Council #1 represents about 720 education and
information professionals who are employed by the state and work in
the Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Technical College System,
State Historical Society, at other state schools and libraries, and
in state prisons and other institutions, including the Centers for the
Developmentally Disabled.
Posted May 7, 2003