Committee to discuss collective bargaining
Sixty faculty, staff members to gather information for group
Thomas Fountain
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Campus News
A faculty committee has been established at UW-Eau Claire to discuss collective bargaining rights for faculty and staff of the university. According to Student Senate minutes from Oct. 29, collective bargaining would create a union for faculty and staff that would allow easier negotiations with the state for pay and benefits.
The committee consists of around 60 faculty and staff members, with no students or administrators. It is currently working to gather information on concerns staff members have and what they are looking for in the future, associate professor of economics, Thomas Kemp, said.
According to the Student Senate minutes, the committee is especially looking for feedback from faculty and staff who have served at universities with these arrangements. Kemp said the committee was moving toward calling for a vote on collective bargaining among faculty and staff at Eau Claire.
Kemp spoke to the Student Senate at their Monday evening meeting about the benefits of collective bargaining to faculty, staff and students. Kemp said he wanted to ensure students were aware of what was happening in the committee.
"I think the interests of the faculty and staff are very much aligned with the interests of the student body," Kemp said. He explained the overarching goals of collective bargaining at UW-Eau Claire are similar to those of the Blugold Commitment, such as lower class sizes and better faculty retention.
The Wisconsin state biennial budget, signed into effect by Governor Jim Doyle on June 29, gave collective bargaining rights to employees of the University of Wisconsin System. These employees include academic staff, tenured faculty and research assistants. The legislation came after 40 years of advocacy, according to a press release from the American Federation of Teacher's Higher Education Web site.
The AFT's press release also said UW-System employees were the last segment of state employees to receive collective bargaining rights.
Kemp said faculty and staff have had unions, but without collective bargaining the organizations had little power. He said the committee's process could take quite a while because there are many steps it must pass through.
Sen. Paydon Miller said he believes Student Senate could eventually work with the committee and that they will continue to work as the voice of the student body.
Miller agreed with Kemp, saying the goals of collective bargaining are similar to many student goals.
"(Collective bargaining) can optimize the learning process for the students," Miller said, "while serving the wellbeing of the faculty and staff."
The committee consists of around 60 faculty and staff members, with no students or administrators. It is currently working to gather information on concerns staff members have and what they are looking for in the future, associate professor of economics, Thomas Kemp, said.
According to the Student Senate minutes, the committee is especially looking for feedback from faculty and staff who have served at universities with these arrangements. Kemp said the committee was moving toward calling for a vote on collective bargaining among faculty and staff at Eau Claire.
Kemp spoke to the Student Senate at their Monday evening meeting about the benefits of collective bargaining to faculty, staff and students. Kemp said he wanted to ensure students were aware of what was happening in the committee.
"I think the interests of the faculty and staff are very much aligned with the interests of the student body," Kemp said. He explained the overarching goals of collective bargaining at UW-Eau Claire are similar to those of the Blugold Commitment, such as lower class sizes and better faculty retention.
The Wisconsin state biennial budget, signed into effect by Governor Jim Doyle on June 29, gave collective bargaining rights to employees of the University of Wisconsin System. These employees include academic staff, tenured faculty and research assistants. The legislation came after 40 years of advocacy, according to a press release from the American Federation of Teacher's Higher Education Web site.
The AFT's press release also said UW-System employees were the last segment of state employees to receive collective bargaining rights.
Kemp said faculty and staff have had unions, but without collective bargaining the organizations had little power. He said the committee's process could take quite a while because there are many steps it must pass through.
Sen. Paydon Miller said he believes Student Senate could eventually work with the committee and that they will continue to work as the voice of the student body.
Miller agreed with Kemp, saying the goals of collective bargaining are similar to many student goals.
"(Collective bargaining) can optimize the learning process for the students," Miller said, "while serving the wellbeing of the faculty and staff."
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