http://www.aftface.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=790Thursday, 24 February 2011
Despite his efforts to stifle the voice of faculty in their workplace, Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin has not succeeded in putting a damper on faculty organizing in the University of Wisconsin system, as witnessed by today's landslide recognition of a new faculty local at UW-La Crosse. Read the whole press release below, and we welcome the UW-La Crosse faculty into the AFT family and stand with them in their fight to make their voice heard!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 24, 2011
Despite hostile political climate, UW-La Crosse faculty overwhelmingly vote "union yes"
La Crosse, Wis. - Earlier today, faculty at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse voted 249-37 of a unit of 328 in favor of union representation through AFT-Wisconsin, a statewide labor federation affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
The vote comes in the wake of Gov. Scott Walker having introduced a budget repair bill that would slash workers' rights and remove academic staff and faculty's right to collectively bargain.
"What we've seen at UW-La Crosse today is an extension of what we've seen across Wisconsin for the past two weeks," stated Susan Crutchfield, an associate professor of English. "Like the hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites who have rallied in Madison, Superior, Fond du Lac, and dozens of other communities across our state, La Crosse faculty stood united today in saying, ‘We deserve a voice in the workplace.'"
According to Prof. Crutchfield, Gov. Walker's budget repair bill galvanized the faculty's resolve to form a union. "When it became clear that the governor's extremist legislation had nothing to do with balancing the budget and everything to do with denying workers' rights, UW-La Crosse faculty realized the urgency in this vote. Each of us stood up, took notice, and turned out to vote."
UW faculty and academic staff were extended the right to collectively bargain in 2009. Since that time, faculty at two campuses - UW-Eau Claire and UW-Superior - have voted in favor of collective bargaining representation. Prior to 2009 legislation, Sen. Dan Kapanke was a co-sponsor of two separate bills that would have extended collective bargaining rights to UW academic staff and faculty.
Prof. Crutchfield expressed disappointment in Sen. Kapanke's recent support of Gov. Walker's extremist agenda. "I recall a Sen. Kapanke who stood up for workers' rights less than two years ago. I wonder what happened to that legislator?"
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
