Madison, WI – Members of several AFT higher education locals and students filled the Capitol on Wednesday to call on lawmakers to recommit themselves to the Wisconsin Idea by working with faculty, staff, and students to strengthen the quality of our UW-System.  Students from UW-Stevens Point have largely led the organizing efforts after their campus announced in March that it would be cutting 13 majors in the humanities, arts, and social sciences.

“Some of these students were in sixth grade when Scott Walker and the Republican legislature started decimating the UW System,” said Andy Felt, UW

Every year, we offer one $500 technical college scholarship and one $1,000 university scholarship to children and grandchildren of current or retired AFTW members. The Scholarship Committee would like to congratulate this year's winners!

Our technical college scholarship recipient is Jeffrey Krueger from West Salem High School in West Salem, Wisconsin.  He plans to attend the Western Technical College in LaCrosse to study electromechanical technology to become a train engineer.  Jeffrey is a high honor roll student, a member of the cross country and track teams, and member of jazz band, DECA

AFT-Wisconsin members are celebrating after labor-endorsed candidates won elections across the state.  Most notably, labor-endorsed WI Supreme Court Candidate, Judge Rebecca Dallet, won a ten-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court by double digits, and voters rejected a ballot initiative that could have put funding for public school libraries at risk by eliminating the Office of the State Treasurer.

AFT-Wisconsin endorsed union members were the big winners on election night.  From Superior to Milwaukee, union members won seats on school boards, county boards, and city councils. AFTW members

Madison, WI – The AFT-Wisconsin Executive Board has endorsed the campaign to “Vote No” on the removal of the Office of the Wisconsin State Treasurer.

“I would encourage you to Vote NO on eliminating the position of State Treasurer,” said Dawn Totzke, a School Library Media Specialist in Chippewa Falls and member of AFT Local 1907.  “Save the funding that supports your school libraries. And keep our financial watchdog over our state finances!”

Why does this matter to public education? Should this amendment pass in April, Wisconsin’s Common School Fund and University Fund will be at risk by giving

Madison, WI – The AFT-Wisconsin Committee on Political Education has endorsed Rebecca Dallet for Wisconsin Supreme Court. 

“Judge Dallet has spent decades fighting for our rights in Wisconsin,” said AFT-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas.  “She has demonstrated that she is above special interests, and will fight to ensure that our rights and values come before the lobbying power of the one percent.  She’ll be a real champion for the people of Wisconsin.” 

Contact:
Wren Keturi
Keturi@aft-wisconsin.org

Shortly following a DPI proposal on school safety and a Democrat-introduced school safety bill, Governor Walker has announced a special session to consider $100 million dollars for school safety proposals.  However, unlike proposals from the DPI that call for long-term solutions aimed at school safety improvements and mental health support for students, Governor Walker’s plan militarizes the school environment.

“Armed guards and airport like security do not create comfortable learning environments,” said Kim Kohlhaas, AFT-Wisconsin President and former educator from Superior, Wisconsin.  “After

“We asked for this publicly-available information to investigate the possibility of filing a legal challenge,” said Deb Augsburger, UWS Local 6514 President. “Though we

Madison, WI – Faculty, students, and staff across the UW System are reacting to the recent news that the largest UW System reorganization in 40 years was an “open secret” at the Capitol.  According to a report from Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR), “Before faculty, staff and students learned about the plan to eliminate the two-year UW Colleges and UW-Extension, UW System President Ray Cross had discussed it with a lawmaker who called for similar action in 2015.”  In a clear disregard for shared governance or the concerns of the UW community, President Cross spent weeks courting Republican

Superior, WI – The UW-Superior faculty have overwhelmingly voted “no confidence” in the UWS administration in response to the recent announcement to suspend and put on warning approximately one-third of all majors and minors at UWS.  The vote was open to all faculty and took place from Wednesday-Friday this week.  The vote, which read, “As a response to the October 31, 2017 administrative decisions to suspend majors/minors, I vote no confidence in the UW-Superior administration,” passed by a 59% margin.

“The faculty overwhelmingly rebuked the administration’s top-down decision on program

Madison, WI – The AFT-Wisconsin Committee on Political Education has endorsed Patty Schachtner for the special election in Senate District 10. 

“We’re very excited about Patty’s run for Senate District 10,” said AFT-Wisconsin President Kim Kohlhaas.  “During the endorsement process, it was clear that Patty was the only candidate that will fight for public education and be a champion for working families in her district and across Wisconsin.  We strongly encourage all working people to support Patty Schachtner in this special election!”

Contact:  Wren Keturi, keturi@aft-wisconsin.org