Asetback for those who would destroy the public labor unions and collective bargaining in Wisconsin

IN A LANDSLIDE, UW-GREEN BAY FACULTY VOTE "UNION YES"
Hostile political climate galvanizes faculty to make a stand for higher education in Wisconsin

Green Bay, Wis. - Earlier today, faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay voted 117-2 out of a unit of 167 in favor of union representation through AFT-Wisconsin, a statewide labor federation affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

The vote occurred despite the introduction of Gov. Walker's "budget repair" bill that would eliminate academic staff and faculty's right to collectively bargain. Although the bill is currently held up in the court system, Republican lawmakers have indicated that they intend to include its anti-collective bargaining provisions into the state budget-a budget that already calls for drastic funding cuts to the UW System.

According to David Voelker, an associate professor of Humanistic Studies and chair of the UW-Green Bay History Program, forming a faculty union is about preserving the integrity of higher education. "UW-Green Bay is now the seventh campus in the UW-System whose faculty have voted 'yes' for a union," stated Prof. Voelker. "Soon, UWGB faculty will have the ability to take collective action to protect and promote quality public higher education in Wisconsin."

Aeron Haynie, an associate professor of English and Humanities at UWGB, believes that the faculty vote ties in to the burgeoning labor movement in Wisconsin-a movement that has seen incredible momentum since the announcement of Walker's anti-union bill in February. "I'm proud to vote for a faculty union at UWGB," said Prof. Haynie. "As we have seen this past year in Wisconsin, it is vital that working people join together and fight for our rights-our right to make decisions which affect the quality of education here in our state and our right to decent benefits. Working together, as a union, makes our voices stronger."

UW faculty and academic staff were extended the right to collectively bargain in June of 2009. Since that time, faculty at six other campuses - UW-Eau Claire, UW-Superior, UW-La Crosse, UW-Stout, UW-River Falls, and UW-Stevens Point - have voted in favor of collective bargaining representation. UW-Superior academic staff will also vote on union representation next week.
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