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On Thursday, April 7, UFAS-UWEC held its Spring General Membership Meeting.  Members present debated and ultimately passed three resolutions regarding tenure, merit pay increases, and the University's patronage of companies who sponsor the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), an organization that supports policies that undermine public funding of higher education. The resolutions passed are as follows:

On Tenure:

Whereas all academic success and progress depends upon intellectual freedom of speech,

whereas tenure was developed as a means to ensure that intellectual freedom of speech, by

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UW-Eau Claire recently earned a spot on The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll of 2014 for student volunteerism. Because of work done through the Center for Service Learning, courses that earn Service Learning credits, and additional volunteer hours, UW-Eau Claire students tallied 355,581 hours of volunteer community service between July 1, 2012 and June 20, 2013.

The estimated value of this work? $7.7 million in fiscal 2012-13 alone! Congratulations to al the students, staff, and faculty who have helped make the Chippewa Valley and the state of Wisconsin a better place

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I'm proud to share with you a joint statement from Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Sara Goldrick-Rab, professor of educational policy studies and sociology at UW-Madison and a member of AFT local 223, United Faculty and Academic Staff.  Randi and Sara, two committed educators and unionists, strongly condemn Scott Walker's attacks on higher education, which will slash essential state funding and threaten the bedrock of academic freedom upon which higher education depends.  Please share this statement widely and help us get the word out about the danger facing every university in the UW System, from Superior to Milwaukee.

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That's the provocative title of an article by Washington Post education reporter Valerie Strauss, who provides a comprehensive overview of the relentless assault on public education in Wisconsin.  Strauss notes that for the first time in over 20 years, the legislature will not be increasing state aid for PK-12 education to at least keep up with inflation, in addition to further draining public education funds by expanding the statewide voucher program that takes money from public school students and sends it to unaccountable private and charter schools.  And Wisconsin is one of only six states

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The results are in, and the message is clear: strong unions matter.  Once again, every AFT-Wisconsin local union that pursued recertification was victorious, showing that even with the game rigged, union members still know how to organize for success.  (You can read AFT-Wisconsin's press release by clicking "more" below.)  Congratulations to members of the following AFT-Wisconsin local unions for their election victories!

  • Local 212 - faculty and PSRP at Milwaukee Area Technical College
  • Local 243 - full-time faculty and PSRP at Madison Area Technical College
  • Local 395 - faculty at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
  • Local 2308 - faculty at Blackhawk Technical College
  • Local 3338 - faculty at Moraine Park Technical College
  • Local 3605 - faculty, non-teaching professionals, and PSRP at Western Technical College
  • Local 4019 - PSRP at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
  • Local 6100 - part-time faculty at Madison Area Technical College
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Governor Scott Walker broke yet another promise to working Wisconsinites this morning by signing so-called “right to work” legislation. After repeatedly stating that it was not a priority, that private sector unions were essential partners in economic recovery, and that the bill would never make it to his desk, he signed the bill gleefully, showing yet again that he’s willing to betray Wisconsin as many times as it takes in service to his personal political aspirations. But we’re not surprised; we’ve come to expect this from Scott Walker. We all know what Scott Walker’s promises are worth. And

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Dear colleagues,

I'm taking a few moments to let you know what your union has learned about the current budget crisis, and the best ways that we think we can help each other.

First, let’s all support our adjuncts on national adjunct walk out day, this Wednesday (tomorrow!), by wearing black armbands.

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Secondly, it is election time. Here is a message from Jim Phillips

UFAS Members,


We will be holding an election for executive board members this spring. The terms for the current executive board members expire on August 1

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On Wednesday, February 25, 2015, United Faculty and Academic Staff of UW-Eau Claire (American Federation of Teachers, local #6481) will be sponsoring a community display of support in commemoration of National Adjunct Walkout Day. 

In solidarity with all of the instructional and non-instructional academic staff who will lose their jobs, at UWEC and throughout the state, as a result the proposed $300 million cut to the UW System, UWEC faculty, staff, and students will be wearing black armbands this Wednesday. 

While UWEC does not use the term “Adjunct” in any official description of any of its

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Scores of AFT-Wisconsin members joined the thousands of Wisconsinites that converged on the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 24, to protest legislation designed to weaken private sector unions.  (Be sure to check out our post on what you can do to stop so-called "right to work" legislation!)  And while union members and community supporters rallied outside, many more were making their voices heard inside the Capitol, registering their opposition to the bill, offering testimony about why it's wrong for Wisconsin, and holding a Solidarity Singalong in the rotunda.

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Wisconsin Labor History High School Essay Contest

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The Wisconsin Labor History Society is currently accepting essays for its 2014-15 Labor History Essay Contest, open to all Wisconsin high school students in grades 9-12.  Up to eight prizes between $100 and $500 will be awarded to outstanding essays of up to 750 words on the topic "Unions have been important to my family and my community because..."  Essays must be postmarked by February 13 for consideration.  Please distribute this contest flyer or share the contest website with any interested high school students and with your fellow union members to spread the word!