Union Plus Scholarship Deadline January 31: Time is running out to apply for this year’s Union Plus Scholarship Program: applications are due by midnight on Tuesday January 31. Union members and their children are eligible for scholarships ranging from $500 to $4,000 for study beginning in the fall of 2012. Since 1992, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded more than $3.2 million to students in over 2,100 union families. With the SATs coming up in March, union members and their children can save 15% to 60% on the Princeton Review's college test prep courses with the Union Plus College Test Preparation Course Discount Difference.
American Federation of Teachers
Robert G. Porter Scholars Program This program offers four 4-year, $8,000 post-secondary scholarships to students who are dependents of AFT members, as well as 10 one-time $1,000 grants to AFT members to assist with their continuing education. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2012. Go to go.aft.org/scholarships for details.
Wisconsin Labor History Society's High School Essay Contest
"Unions have been important to my family and my community because..." Cash prizes up to $500 will be awarded. Entry deadline: February 17, 2012. Click here for details.
Local 212 Member Kenneth O'Reilly
Writes New eBook
Local 212 member Kenneth O’Reilly, an MATC instructor of U.S. history, political science, and Native American history, has written a new eBook, “Holy Cow 2000: The Strange Election of George W. Bush.” It is O'Reilly's fifth book. O'Reilly came to MATC from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
AFT Local 212’s Retiree Chapter
Holds Meeting on Threats to
Wisconsin Retirement System
On Friday, December 9th more than two hundred retirees met to learn about threats by the Walker administration to the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS). AFT Local 212’s retiree chapter hosted the meeting which was chaired by Jennifer Madej, a Local 212 retiree. Panelists, including Keith Roberts, MATC’s former Director of Research and Strategic Planning, explained that the WRS is fully funded, but that the Walker administration’s anti-public employee actions have caused a surge in retirements that will require the system to begin providing pensions to many more retirees than expected. As a result, Walker may propose privatizing the system. That would threaten the pensions of current and future retirees. Attendees were encouraged to contact their elected representatives to protect their hard earned pensions.
Laborers vote with their feet when firms offer no security
Editorial by Michael Rosen
Appearing in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
December 3, 2011
Wisconsin's manufacturers are facing a skilled labor shortage of machinists, operators, craft workers, distributors and technicians. In response, the Milwaukee 7, southeastern Wisconsin's regional development organization of business and community leaders, has announced a public relations campaign.
News flash: It will take a lot more than branding to solve these labor shortages.
Any solution must start with defining the scope of the problem. Why is there a shortage of the kind of skilled workers that for decades made Milwaukee a destination for manufacturers?
AFT President Randi Weingarten’s Statement on the Ohio Vote to Restore Union Rights
November 13, 2011
"As Ohio goes, so goes the nation" has taken on new meaning after this week's election. The people of Ohio used their citizen veto decisively to repeal legislation that would have stripped police officers, teachers, firefighters and other public workers of their right to bargain collectively.
It is the first time in the nation's history that collective bargaining rights have been upheld on a statewide ballot. And it is a clear sign that Americans understand we can't rebuild the economy without rebuilding the middle class.
The opposition to the legislation's partisan overreach went well beyond public employees and union members. More people voted to repeal Senate Bill 5 in November 2011 than voted to elect John Kasich governor a year earlier. That message should not be lost on the legislators who voted to pass it.
On page 7 of the AFT On Campus November/December 2011 issue, readers will find a full-page article of Local 212’s Kevin Mulvenna. Singing his praises as songwriter, performer, video producer, teacher and father, the article states: “Pairing his music…with video of signs and speeches and thousands of adults and children coming together to march, is nothing short of inspiring and, in fact, wins standing ovations and tears at union events.”
Kevin is quoted in the article as saying: “Music, pictures and video are key. They helped end the war in Vietnam and brought the civil rights movement into the living rooms of an outraged country. Perhaps they can do the same in this struggle.” Read the full article here
Ohio’s victory is YOUR victory!
Following in the footsteps of you and other Wisconsin citizens who marched in the cold and snow last winter, Ohio citizens yesterday repealed a law that eliminated collective bargaining rights for public employees. The victory was huge: 61% to 39%.
This resounding repudiation of Ohio governor Kasich’s attempt to mimic Scott Walker is the perfect momentum booster for the RECALL SCOTT WALKER movement that begins November 15.
Unlike Wisconsin, Ohio citizens have a right to take issues to referendum. Remember, Walker did not run for office on a platform of destroying collective bargaining and turning one sector of the middle class against another. Walker instead ran on a platform of “limited” government. His actions show that what he meant was limited government for his corporate contributors and restrictive laws for everyone else.
So the RECALL WALKER movement will be Wisconsin’s referendum. Poll after poll shows that Walker is extremely unpopular in Wisconsin, and that if we had the right to vote on the bargaining issue in Wisconsin, the results would be the same as in Ohio.
So gear up for being an activist for 60 days! Every industrialized country in the world has recognized the basic human right of all employees to have a voice in the workplace. Add your voice to Ohio’s by sending a loud and clear message that Walker can’t get away with destroying YOUR fundamental rights.
Call CiCi at the Local 212 office, 765-0910, to let us know that you’re willing to help beginning November 15.
The future of Wisconsin’s middle class is at stake.
Michael, Charlie, Frank and Marwill
Ohio Votes NO!
November 8, 2011 - CLEVELAND, Ohio
A million votes have been counted and
nearly 63 percent of them are "No" votes on state Issue 2 (Senate Bill
5).
The Associated Press has called the race -- saying Issue 2 and Senate
Bill 5 have been defeated. SB5 was the bill which would have upheld
the drastic re-write of Ohio's collective bargaining law for public
employees. – Read more here.
Dr. Michael Rosen Elected Executive VP
of AFT-Wisconsin at 2011 Convention
November 5, 2011
The American Federation of Teachers Wisconsin held its state convention from October 26 through October 28th in Eau Claire. Three AFT 212 members were elected to state-wide posts.
AFT 212 President Michael Rosen was elected the Executive Vice President of the state organization of public employees, K-12 teachers and Wisconsin Technical College System (WCTS) faculty and professional staff.
Marietta Love was re-elected to the Board as the professional staff representative and Cliff Winkleman, retiring from the Board after almost two decades of service, was elected co-chair of the WTCS Council.
The convention focused on three areas:
Recalling Governor Walker for his unprecedented attack on public employees’ democratic rights
Planning how AFTW will continue to organize and serve the membership under Act 10, the law that eliminated collective bargaining rights.
Defining our legal rights in the current environment.
Randi Weingarten, AFT President attended the event and addressed the delegates on Friday morning. She urged everyone to continue to fight for workplace fairness and to restore our democratic right to organize.
Local 212 Retiree Meeting
October 21, 2011
45 Local 212 retirees met at the retiree’s quarterly meeting at Best Place to renew old friendships, organize for the Walker recall and learn how changes in federal healthcare law will affect them.
American Jobs Act
Press Conference Coverage
October 19, 2011
On Monday, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, MATC President Michael Burke and AFT Local 212 Executive Board member and welding instructor, Larry Gross, urged Congress to pass the American Jobs Act that would invest $5 billion in technical college modernization.
The press conference was held in the MATC West campus welding lab. Several students were also interviewed.
The event was widely covered. The television clips are linked below.
I’m requesting Full-Time Faculty and Counselors from all MATC departments to join an academic hiring committee. The recruitment process has already begun for new faculty hires and plan to conduct interviews starting in October (for spring 2012 semester faculty) and April 2012 (for fall semester new hires).
We need your input and participation in employment interviews. Please step up to be one of three volunteers or three alternates from your department. Small departments will require at least two volunteers plus two alternates.
This one year-commitment is a volunteer opportunity, but you can earn credit toward certification. If you accumulate 40 hours on a hiring committee, you will earn one credit toward your certification for a maximum of three credits per five-year certification cycle.
We will identify specific days and times well in advance so you may reserve time on your calendar for committee work. If your department does not have open positions for spring 2012, your committee will not meet.
Cosmo Id#
Name
Primary Bargaining Unit (FT Faculty, PT Faculty, Paraprofessional)
Division
Department
Email address
Preferred phone number
Faculty and counselors are necessary to help hire the best instructors for our students. Volunteer now and you will be Making A Terrific College even better.
Watch the video (posted below), or click on this YouTube linkto hear what George Stone, Rohan DeSilva, Larry Domine, Julie Rock and I have to say about this opportunity.
Thanks in advance for your consideration and service.
Steven P. Holloway
1st V.P. Committees
AFT, Local 212
Local 212 Executive Board Endorses
Occupy Milwaukee
October 12, 2011
Last night, AFT Local 212's Executive Board voted unanimously to endorse the Occupy Wall Street movement for democracy and against corporate control of our government and economy. We urge everyone to attend the Occupy Milwaukee march and rally on Saturday, October 15th at 11 AM at Zeidler Park.
Legislators Introduce Wisconsin Jobs Initiative That Would Restore Tech
College Funding and Train Skilled Workers
October 5, 2011
MADISON - Today at a press conference in the Capitol, State Rep. Cory
Mason (D-Racine) and State Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) introduced
the Wisconsin Jobs Initiative.
The Wisconsin Jobs Initiative will provide job skills training and
education to at least 35,000 Wisconsin workers through a significant
investment in Wisconsin's Technical College System (WTCS). The bill
would replace the $34.2 million cut from the WTCS in the biennial
budget. It also allocates $35.8 million in grants to provide skill
training and education, assist dislocated workers, and expand capacity
at technical colleges statewide. Preference for the grants will be given
to areas of the state with high unemployment.
Rep. Mason said, "Wisconsin's employers have joined the chorus of voices
calling for a skilled workforce. A significant investment in our state's
workers is long overdue. I am proud to stand with Wisconsin's struggling
workers and employers during these challenging economic times. This bill
gives employers what they say they need most right now: skilled workers.
This initiative allows us to stand by the workers and companies who
built the Wisconsin economy and help them grow in the future."
"Governor Walker's cuts to education forced Wisconsin's technical
colleges to scale back important job training. As a result, companies
like Caterpillar have family-supporting jobs available but lack the
right skilled workers to fill them," said Sen. Larson. "This legislation
will help in the short-term by providing Wisconsinites with vital job
training to get our neighbors back to work and provide our local
businesses long-term with the qualified, skilled applicants they need
for years to come."
The bill proposes that this investment be paid for by the creation of a
new top income tax rate for those tax filers whose annual incomes exceed
$1 million. The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates that
there are approximately 2,900 Wisconsin tax filers who would be impacted
by this change, which would generate at least $70 million in new revenue
in its first year.
"Middle class families and workers have been asked to make tremendous
sacrifices in recent months," said Rep. Mason. "This bill asks
Wisconsin's wealthiest individuals to share a small amount of that
sacrifice in order to train and educate at least 35,000 Wisconsin
workers."
Rep. Mason and Sen. Larson are circulating the bill for co-sponsorship
to their colleagues today and expect to formally introduce it next week.
WTCS President Dan Clancy's Statement
on Wisconsin Jobs Initiative
October 5, 2011
MADISON - The jobs proposal Representative Cory Mason and Senator Chris
Larson are introducing and public discussion it inspires could not have
come at a better time. Every day, the media reports new stories on the
efforts of Wisconsin industries to compete and grow. More often than
not, skill acquisition is one of the biggest challenges facing workers
and employers in today's high-tech and fast-changing economy. Addressing
the workforce skills gap is one of the objectives of Governor Walker's "Back to Work Wisconsin" special legislative session.
Wisconsin's technical colleges are designing new programs and expanding
online and alternative educational opportunities. We are preparing our
state's workforce for the very industries that economic experts believe
will ensure America's future prosperity: biotechnology, advanced
manufacturing, clean energy, and healthcare. Wisconsin's technical
colleges are also working with employers in Wisconsin's core industries
of agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, construction and natural
resources to find innovative ways of developing and upgrading workforce
skills. Unfortunately, technical colleges face barriers to ensuring
sufficient capacity and maintaining a strong workforce pipeline. New
resources are needed if technical colleges are to fully meet the
challenges of record enrollments, more complex and diverse student populations, and a constantly evolving technical sophistication within
Wisconsin's industries and the global economy.
These are difficult financial times for the state as well as for its
citizens. The Legislature will have to choose from among many worthy and
compelling priorities. Representative Mason and Senator Larson have been
leaders in efforts to prioritize new pathways to prosperity through job
creation and retention and they have consistently advocated that
effective jobs legislation must involve Wisconsin's technical colleges.
We agree there is no better place to develop human potential
intofamily-supporting employment and economic success. The Wisconsin
Jobs Initiative would enable Wisconsin's technical colleges to educate
more highly-skilled workers in industries that will create and sustain
jobs in Wisconsin. This will help move thousands of individuals out of
poverty and along an educational path to career success. The Wisconsin
Technical College System is eager to work with the Legislature and the
Governor to expand technical college capacity, address the skill needs
and improve the economic potential of workers, employers and the state
as a whole.
Local 212 Member’s Reflection
on Labor Day 2011
2011 Labor Day Parade
by Tom Martinsen
I have marched 15 times or so on Labor Day from Zeidler Park to the
Summerfest grounds. This year's parade was among the most up-lifting of
them. Our Local 212 contingent started chanting "This is what democracy
looks like" in response to a voice through a bull-horn's "Tell me what democracy looks like" while we were still standing in place - before the
march started marching. Groups in front and behind us started chanting
early as well. In fact, "this is what democracy looks like" had been
cheered back at car horns honking nine times in the cadence recognized
as "tell me what democracy looks like" as my wife and I walked from
where we parked our car to Zeidler Park .
The chanting was inspired by a variety of people who had obviously been
engaged in the work of inspiring on a regular basis since February of
this year. "I say recall; you say Walker" commanded a man with a
bull-horn. The combined, unamplified shouts of "Walker" were
conspicuously louder than the voice saying "recall" through the
bull-horn. The men and women on horns offered a variety of chants in
addition to the above. "Yes We Can" and "Si Se Puede" were brought back
from another time for this occasion. The alliterative "Walker Is A
Weasel" prompted some in the crowd to pantomime sentiments in that
slogan.
As much as I have always loved this march, I have acknowledged in the
past that it has been sometimes a parade in which the participants
outnumbered the audience. That was not the case this year. Great
numbers of primarily sympathetic people lined the streets to watch the
unions march this year. During the few moments of relative silence
between the chants, people who were watching the parade became
participants by starting chants themselves of "Recall Walker." "Tell me
what democracy looks like" ... Viewers of the parade also joined in on
songs such as "We Are the Union" and "Solidarity Forever" that were
mixed in with the chants. There was applause from the audience
throughout the parade route, and many "high fives," thumbs up gestures
and big smiles were shared by marchers and viewers all along the route.
I personally witnessed only two instances of anti-union sentiment in the
audience. Two men who looked like dim twins held identical "We Support
Walker " signs in identical fashion: slung low and menacing, resembling
the way punk-rock guitar players typically display their instruments. I
tried to make eye contact with those guys, but their eyes stayed fixed
on something at some distance which I did not see. That experience
reminded me of a time when I confronted a neighbor who let his Pit-Bull
run free when my kids were small. I didn't make eye-contact with that
guy either. His eyes did not focus on our neighborhood.
I had no luck with the other anti-union sign holder I encountered. That
man held a sign that read "Collective Bargaining = Union Bullying." I
asked him if bargaining and bullying could be an oxymoron. He did not
respond with words or gestures. His blank look suggested that the moron
part of oxymoron could be an insult.
The relative scarcity of dimwits and morons at the Labor Day parade this
year and the overwhelming numbers of energized and enlightened
participants and viewers were all heartening. Although it is true that
the labor movement did not deliver a knock-out punch in the recall
elections this summer to reactionaries who have stripped many of our
brothers and sisters of their collective bargaining rights/privileges, the labor movement helped move the
electorate in a progressive direction this summer. Before Governor
Walker's February assault on unions, he had 18 lock-step state senators,
one reluctant lock-stepper, and only 14 state senators with the nerve to
question his agenda. As of now, Walker has only 16 lock-step senators,
one reluctant, and 16 who question his agenda.
Those who question Walker's agenda have been framing that question
rather well since February. The energy and grace of the participants in
this year's Labor Day parade and the enthusiasm of the audience both
made me feel like a part of a positive change that could reverse the
perverse, reactionary national agenda of the far right to strip working
people of all of the benefits we have bargained for since FDR's NEW
DEAL. The reactionaries who have been bullying our political leaders in
the interest of repealing social security, unemployment compensation,
medicare and other progressive programs must be countered in the
interest of returning to a progressive agenda. This year's Labor Day
parade made me feel like those of us who favor progress over an
idealization of the era of the ROBBER BARONS as a golden age may be able
to restore sanity to our political process and to our government.
"Yes We Can/Si Se Puede/ Forward!"
Tom Martinsen
MATC receives federal grant to boost science and technology careers
September 6, 2011
By Karen Herzog of the Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Area Technical College has received a National Science Foundation grant to develop curriculum and recruit students who will pursue careers in science and technology.
The first phase of the grant is $10,245 for curriculum planning and student recruitment. MATC anticipates an additional $589,734 for student scholarships, pending the availability of funds and progress of the project.
“This prestigious National Science Foundation grant will help continue our commitment to preparing students for careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics ) fields that are in high demand,” said MATC President Michael Burke.
State Pension Chief Raps GOP Legislature, Steps Down
By Mike Ivey, The Capital Times
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Expressing frustration with changes wrought by the Republican controlled Legislature, the head of the Wisconsin Retirement System is retiring himself.
David Stella, who has served as secretary of the Department of Employee Trust Funds since 2007, announced his decision in the agency's September newsletter, available here. His retirement will be effective January 2012
"As part of my fiduciary responsibility, I advocated that the changes be studied before their enactment to determine their fiscal effect on the WRS," Stella writes.
"My requests went unheeded. This means the financial and structural impact and associated risks of these law changes in both the short- and long-term may not be fully understood. Given the complexity and extremely large financial impact of the WRS on Wisconsin, proposed changes must be thoughtfully constructed, carefully studied and meticulously implemented."
80th Annual AFT-Wisconsin Convention The Plaza Hotel ~ Eau Claire, WI
In accordance with Local 212 procedure for sending delegates to the annual AFT-WI convention: 1) Nominations close at least 15 days prior to the election; 2) Delegates will be elected by secret ballot at a membership meeting; 3) To be elected as delegates, nominees must receive more than 50% of the ballots cast.
Nominations for delegates to this year’s AFT-WI Convention are now open through 12:30 p.m. on Friday, September 2, 2011. Only members (bargaining unit members who have signed membership application cards) are eligible for nomination. Simply complete the nomination form(click HERE for the form), get the nominee’s signature, and return the entire page to the Union office no later than 12:30 p.m. on Friday, September 2, 2011. Self-nomination is encouraged.
The delegates will be elected at theSeptember General Membership meeting (Date/Time to be determined).
If you have any questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to call the Union Office at (414) 765-0910 or email Pam Bautch at pbautch@local212.org
Darling Sold out Wisconsin Kids
for Big Tobacco
July 21, 2011
RIVER HILLS, WI – A recent report has called into question Sen. Alberta Darling role in inserting a last-minute budget amendment that makes it easier for tobacco giant Philip Morris to push cancer-causing tobacco products to Wisconsin children – marketing them with fruity flavors and candy-like packaging. The amendment was pushed in Madison directly by Philip Morris parent company Altria, and provided Big Tobacco with a huge tax break over the status quo and their competition.
The report shows Darling’s amendment to be nearly exact ‘model language’ provided to state legislators by a group called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a secretive, corporate-funded outfit with strong connections to the tobacco industry. Darling’s connections to ALEC go back to 2009 when she used tax dollars to pay $200 in membership fees to the organization, giving her access to exclusive, closed-door meetings with potential corporate donors, including ALEC member Altria/Philip Morris USA.
And voila! Altria/Philip Morris USAwrote a $1,000 check to Alberta Darling, just days after she became chair of the powerful Joint Finance Committee where she was able to insert the language requested by Big Tobacco.
“Alberta Darling’s willingness to sell out the health of Wisconsin ’s children to her Big Tobacco pals shows she’s a complete tool of the powerful corporate interests that bankroll her campaigns and push the attacks on middle class working families currently coming out of Madison ,” said Sally Evans, a retired kindergarten teacher from Shorewood. “Alberta Darling’s shameless handout to her friends in the tobacco industry to help them market their cancer-causing products to Wisconsin ’s children is immoral, unethical, and truly reprehensible.”
Notably, the late-night amendment Darling slid through her committee as a favor to Big Tobacco was actually vetoed by Scott Walker – who said it represented a huge threat to the health of Wisconsin ’s children. According to the report, Darling refused to return multiple calls seeking an explanation for her conduct.
Tax dodgers in Wisconsin!
Your taxes increase because not everyone pays their fair share. Read the Institute for Wisconsin ’s Future report to find out who the biggest tax dodgers are.
President Rosen: Extending Unemployment Benefits is the Right Thing To Do
July 9, 2011
What's the difference between unemployed workers and corporate executives?
The actions of Republican Gov. Scott Walker and GOP legislative leaders reveal that to them one group is much more deserving of government attention than the other.
Monday, February 6th Executive Board Meeting
4:15pm Union Office
Strike Book & Poster Available
A history of Local 212’s successful strike in 1969 - Forty Days that Forged a Union, by Adam Breihan and Charlie Dee, is available free to Local 212 members or can be purchased by the general public for $10.
Posters of the painting The Spirit of '69 by striker Sam Gansheroff can be purchased for $20.
Both are available at the Local 212 office. Call 414-765-0910 or email Pam Bautch at bautchp@local212.org.
On page 7 of the AFT On Campus November/December 2011 issue, readers will find a full-page article of Local 212’s Kevin Mulvenna. Singing his praises as songwriter, performer, video producer, teacher and father, the article states: “Pairing his music…with video of signs and speeches and thousands of adults and children coming together to march, is nothing short of inspiring and, in fact, wins standing ovations and tears at union events.” 
The chanting was inspired by a variety of people who had obviously been
engaged in the work of inspiring on a regular basis since February of
this year. "I say recall; you say Walker" commanded a man with a
bull-horn. The combined, unamplified shouts of "Walker" were
conspicuously louder than the voice saying "recall" through the
bull-horn. The men and women on horns offered a variety of chants in
addition to the above. "Yes We Can" and "Si Se Puede" were brought back
from another time for this occasion. The alliterative "Walker Is A
Weasel" prompted some in the crowd to pantomime sentiments in that
slogan.
