Local 212 Recent Accomplishments Summer/Fall 2023
What Local 212 has accomplished with the strength of its membership so far this academic year:
Advocated for and won union voice in the presidential search process
Fought for fair compensation increases that reflect inflation
Represented members in dozens of fact finding and disciplinary meetings
Successfully assisted eight members with pay discrepancies
Assisted multiple members with FMLA leave-related questions and issues
Called out surprise changes in job descriptions and pushed back on unilateral bargaining unit position reclassifications
Fought back against attempts to restrict union representation of its members
Called for administrative accountability after identifying gaps and dysfunction at the college, obtaining "check phases" on a number of college processes and structures including those related to compensation, hiring, and Guided Pathways restructuring
Conducted member outreach through our member survey, Laborfest, the Welcome Back Event, a PT Faculty Pizza Party, and the New Employee Luncheon, as well as monthly membership meetings and numerous on campus “Pop Up” events
Addressed and continue to fight for administration to address member concerns voiced in our fall survey that fell into 5 categories - shared governance, administrative accountability, transparency, HR dysfunction and compensation.
Provided information and support for members with retirement-related questions and for retirees with benefits and other issues
Represented Local 212 members’ interests at MATC board meetings, the AFT-WI Biennial Convention and at Milwaukee Area Labor council meetings, events and convenings, as well as on many MATC committees and work teams.
Completed the update and review of the Local 212 Bylaws and Procedures manuals
Worked to establish new leadership at MPBS and continue to work to redefine MPBS job descriptions that no longer align with duties that have changed due to advances in the industry and with technology
Called out student support staffing shortages and pathway inequities, accomplishing some improvements and pressing for expanded investment in student supports
Exposed the toxic culture in the Enrollment Services Department and continue to work with para members to resolve this issue
Continued to advocate for and gained meaningful change related to shared governance at the college, including the transition of the Learn Pillar Integration Committee (LIPC) into the Academic Integration Council (AIC) and launched the Enrollment Integration Council (EIC), laying a foundation for a stronger frontline expert voice, a more balanced, and representative, academics-student services structure for decision-making (the EIC came to fruition after multiple years of advocacy and admin-based stalled starts!)
Launched the Paraprofessionals and Part-time Faculty organizing councils
Pressed for pilot implementation of a more equitable PT Faculty pay structure following more than 1.5 years of advocacy and work team participation
Fought for, and won back last minute cuts to fall ‘23 faculty ZANCIL load assignments
Advocated for and obtained increased faculty opportunities for Blackboard Ultra Training and FQAS hours
Successfully advocated for and supported multiple departments and programs in the fight for staffing, pushing back against last-minute hires, restriction of faculty voice on hiring committees, and denied requests to fill much needed, positions
Identified and pressed administration to correct nearly 100 new faculty and other employees with missing or incorrect MATC directory information (some even lacked phone or email access!)
Provided over $525,000 thousand dollars of assistance to 1,668 students in 2022-23 through the FAST Fund
Launched the Local 212 MATC Reads and Little Free Libraries Book Distribution Racial & Social Justice Committee projects
Successfully advocated for MATC’s downtown campus as an early voting site
Advocated for public employees, public and technical education, voting rights, MATC, our students, as well as our members and their families at the local, state and national levels
We're excited to continue our work this spring and to see what we can accomplish together!
