WEAC, WFT Will Continue Collaboration

WEAC and the Wisconsin Federation of Teachers will continue to work together on issues that benefit public education and children, even though a drive to unite their national organizations did not move forward in its first attempt, WEAC President Terry Craney said.

"We are disappointed that delegates at the NEA Representative Assembly did not choose to make the American Federation of Teachers part of our education family at this time," Craney said. "Unity would have created one voice for children and schools at a time when public education is coming under increasing attack."

Craney said WEAC and the WFT will continue collaborative activities that have been under way for several years.

"WEAC and the WFT have been working closely on many activities since 1990," Craney said. "It took several years for us to become comfortable with our relationship, and it will probably take that long for other states to achieve that same success.

"Delegates from many other states were not comfortable with unification now," he said. "The challenge is to demonstrate the necessity and benefits of speaking and acting in concert on behalf of public education and our children."

Posted July 6, 1998