Survey Confirms Public Support For Madison Teachers
A large majority of Madison residents believe teachers and the school
district should bargain with the assistance of a mediator or go to binding
arbitration, according to a survey released Thursday.
The Wisconsin Education Association Council commissioned a survey of
Madison Metropolitan School District residents to assess their opinions
of the impasse between Madison Teachers Inc. and the school district.
According to results:
- 72.8% of Madison residents believe or strongly believe the judge should
order teachers to continue teaching and require the union and management
to continue bargaining with a mediator under the judge's supervision.
- 70.6% said they would support the judge's order if he were to require
binding arbitration.
- 68% of respondents said Madison teachers should receive salary and
benefits increases that are equal to the average received by other public
employees and university professors.
- 11.3% believe they should receive increases that are greater than
average.
"The poll confirms that Madison teachers have the public's support
in their request for an objective third party to resolve the impasse,"
WEAC President Terry Craney said. "Residents recognize that Madison
teachers deserve fair compensation for the important work they do."
Teachers and district representatives return to Dane County Circuit Judge
Richard Callaway's court Friday (September 26), if resolution is not reached.
The poll was conducted by Chamberlain Research Consultants on September
23 and 24. It has a margin of error of 4.88% at the 95% confidence level.
Posted September 25, 1997