Bargaining Goals Resolution

All WEAC locals are encouraged to submit this resolution to a vote of their bargaining unit membership in February 1997.

Whereas the Wisconsin Legislature and Governor passed changes in 111.70 in 1993, imposed a punitive Qualified Economic Offer at 2.1% for wages and 1.7% for fringe benefits based on artificial projections with a 3-year sunset, and

Whereas the 3-year sunset was removed and the Qualified Economic Offer made permanent in 1995, and

Whereas K-12 teacher salaries are losing at least 1.5% per year to the cost of living during a time period when Wisconsin per-capita income/median income and other economic indicators are averaging over 5% annually, and

Whereas new teachers entering the profession will suffer major long-term loss in earnings as salary schedules are flattened, and

Whereas losses for all teachers have a devastating, increasingly negative impact on retirement earnings, and

Whereas personnel are the key to successful learning, and

Whereas the Qualified Economic Offer has basically eliminated bargaining on educational improvement,

Now, therefore, be its resolved that (local) Education Association supports our bargaining committee in its attempt to reach a fair, voluntary settlement without acquiescing to the provisions of the Qualified Economic Offer, and therefore directs the bargaining committee to seek a settlement consistent with fair collective bargaining and in line with the cost of living.

Posted November 13, 1996