Kenosha EA to participate in AFL-CIO/NEA partnership
Union representatives celebrate the new relationship between the Kenosha Education Association and the AFL-CIO. They are, left to right,
Kenosha County AFL-CIO President Ronald Frederick,
KEA Executive Director Joe Kiriaki,
KEA President Chris Perillo,
WEAC Affiliate Relations Director Bob Baxter (who is the former KEA executive director),
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President David Newby, and
WEAC Vice President Guy Costello.
State by KEA President Chris Perillo Our members work with children. We see the effects of substandard wages, lack of health care, and the poor working conditions of their parents and caregivers reflected through them. Entering into this partnership with the AFL-CIO at the local, state and national levels helps us make things better for those children by working to improve the salaries, benefits and working conditions that their parents and caregivers have. In turn, this increases the opportunities for success with the children we work with and improves the standing of all workers in our community, state, and nation. Statement by WEAC Vice President Guy Costello On behalf of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, let me say that I’m very proud to be here today with the Kenosha Education Association, the Kenosha County AFL-CIO Labor Council and the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO to celebrate this historic solidarity agreement. If you look up the word “solidarity” in the dictionary or on Wikipedia you will find definitions like: “Unity that produces a community of interests and objectives.” or “The feeling or expression of union in a group formed by a common interest.” The common interests of the unions represented here today and the thousands of members we represent are clear – we want strong communities, with sound services, good paying jobs, accessible quality health care, and great schools. These are challenging goals, but they can be achieved if we are united, show real solidarity, and work for what is best for all our members. This new solidarity agreement between the KEA and the Kenosha County AFL-CIO Labor Council is a powerful expression of how working together we can best promote the interests and dreams of educators, students, working families, and all the communities of Kenosha County and Wisconsin. WEAC looks forward to working with our brothers and sisters in the KEA and the AFL-CIO to turn these interests and dreams into reality.
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The Kenosha Education Association will submit an application to participate in the AFL-CIO/NEA Solidarity Partnership Agreement effective September 1, 2008. This action was approved by KEA’s Association Representatives in May.
“The Kenosha Education Association and Kenosha County AFL-CIO Labor Council have participated in an Interaction Agreement since May of 2003; now, five years later, we begin the process to formalize our relationship," said KEA President Chris Perillo.
“We have enjoyed a close working relationship with the Kenosha County AFL-CIO Labor Council for the past five years. Our two organizations have worked together to improve the quality of life for working families throughout Kenosha County.
“Our two organizations have accomplished a great deal during the last five years in unifying our efforts to serve the needs of our members and their families. Through our legislative and political efforts we have been successful by working together to elect candidates that have proven their commitment to protect the needs of working families at both the local and state levels,” Perillo said. “In our work together, we have contributed to building stronger and more effective community-based programs, making them accessible to our members, and addressing the needs of all Kenosha County residents.
“The solidarity in supporting one another’s efforts to negotiate fair and equitable contracts for all of Kenosha‘s unions has been second to none. This piece in itself has been most meaningful to KEA members and Kenosha AFL-CIO members,” Perillo said.
KEA Executive Director Joe Kiriaki described the action as “quite historical.”
“Almost five years ago to the day, the KEA and Kenosha County AFL-CIO entered into an Interaction Agreement, which allowed the two organizations to work collectively on a limited basis. That was a history-making event then. KEA became just one of a few teachers’ unions at the time that had such working agreements in place in the state of Wisconsin. Once again, five years later, the KEA will be among the first teacher union locals in Wisconsin to fully affiliate under the terms of the February 2006 AFL-CIO/NEA Labor Solidarity Partnership Agreement,” Kiriaki said.
“This action provides the opportunities to broaden our efforts to work jointly for working families throughout Kenosha County, the state of Wisconsin, and at a national level,” Kiriaki said.
“The KEA is a strong advocate for members in Kenosha, and its decision to align forces with the Kenosha area AFL-CIO Council will further strengthen its ability to advocate for our members, kids, communities, and public education,” said WEAC Vice President Guy Costello. “This solidarity agreement will help the KEA build bridges to the Kenosha community. Because great schools benefit everyone, and it takes everyone working together."
Kenosha County AFL-CIO Labor Council President Ron Fredrick said, “I am delighted with the KEA decision to affiliate with us at all three levels. We’ve enjoyed an excellent working relationship during the last five years, and this just confirms and bonds the commitment of all of Kenosha’s unions to work together on common issues and goals. On behalf of all Kenosha AFL-CIO affiliates, I welcome the KEA’s teachers and educational support professionals to the AFL-CIO; and we’re proud to have them on board.”
"We are extremely pleased that the Kenosha Education Association has voted to affiliate with the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO," said David Newby, president of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. "While the KEA's parent organization, the National Education Association (NEA), is not a member of the AFL-CIO, the NEA and the AFL-CIO have developed a program called 'Unity Partnerships,' whereby individual locals of the NEA can affiliate with the AFL-CIO on the national, state, and local levels. The Kenosha Education Association joins the Beloit Education Association as the second NEA local in Wisconsin to join the AFL-CIO through the Unity Partnerships program. We have a good working relationship with the KEA's state parent organization, the Wisconsin Education Association Council; but now the KEA becomes a full partner with the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO in promoting public education and the interests of teachers and all working families in our state. Both the KEA and the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO are stronger organizations as a consequence. We welcome their affiliation and look forward to a close and effective working relationship of mutual support.”
Posted May 30, 2008