UW-W faculty takes stand over repair bill
WHITEWATER — UW-Whitewater faculty members are urging state lawmakers to rescind collective bargaining changes and reconsider a proposal to break-off UW-Madison from the UW System.
UW-W faculty overwhelmingly passed a resolution Tuesday during its spring meeting, asking the state Senate and Assembly to "reverse the vote for the amended budget repair bill and to significantly alter the biennial budget."
Meanwhile, UW-W Chancellor Richard Telfer said leaders across the UW System are signing a separate resolution asking Gov. Scott Walker and other legislators to consider an alternative to separating the flagship campus from the rest of the UW System.
The "Wisconsin Idea Partnership," supported by the Board of Regents, would keep UW-M under the umbrella of the UW System. At the same time, the operational flexibilities proposed for UW-M would be extended to all schools.
Telfer said that gives campus leaders more control over their budgets and allows them to efficiently manage funds as the state continues to scale back its contributions.
"My biggest concern on this is there is a lot of unknowns," Telfer said. "We're all concerned with the level of cuts, we're concerned with the continuing nature of cuts that we've had. What I'm saying from my perspective is we're better off to get these (flexibilities) because then we have the capability to deal with it."
Walker's budget released earlier this month outlines $250 million in cuts throughout the UW System. Separating UW-M would allow it to create its own board of trustees, many of which would be appointed by the governor.
Faculty already lost out on a 2 percent contracted raise in 2009 and greater contributions to pensions and health care will take 7 to 10 percent from their salary, faculty wrote in the resolution. They also feared implications of the budget repair bill will make it difficult to recruit high-quality educators.
UW-W does not have a faculty union, though the letter indicated there is support for one.
"We believe it should be our choice whether or not we wish to exercise our right to collectively bargain, to stand with our peers to negotiate not only economic matters, but also on conditions of work," faculty wrote.
Telfer said a letter from all UW chancellors except for UW-M Chancellor Biddy Martin would soon be drafted showing support for the Wisconsin Idea Partnership. He said he is confident UW-W has the faculty and administration to assume greater control of its funds.
The new partnership would provide flexibility for budgeting, tuition, construction and human resources, among other initiatives, he said.
Faculty said it would soon send its resolution to the state legislature. It also approved the creation of an ad-hoc committee to provide updates of state government affairs and their effect on campus.
"These budgetary decisions will have consequences for decades to come," faculty wrote in the resolution. "The lack of open and reasoned debate on the proposed changes, and the lack of ability to compromise and to discard ideas, are not in the best interest of Wisconsin."
Mar 18, 2011 at 2:29 a.m.
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@onedayatatime. we definitely agree on one thing. I will NEVER call my self a christian. That may be the one cult I find more repulsive than unions.
Mar 17, 2011 at 8:35 p.m.
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Yes - I know the "UW-W does not have a faculty union". Then why are they putting the story out and sticking their nose in the issue other than to take sides and stir the coals.
Mar 17, 2011 at 4:01 p.m.
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Listen to all the left wingnuts throwing out threats and fears mongering. What a bunch of whiney brats. They lost. Pick up your marbles and go home........
Mar 17, 2011 at 3:17 p.m.
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"My interpretation is "every man (or woman) for himself. I'll take that every day of the week and twice on sundays. Less fat for the weaker links, means more for the stronger ones."
Saxcat70.. you have every right to your opinion, just don't ever call yourself a Christian, that would be the ultimate in hypocrisy. Romans 15:1 - We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Good God. This is one reason why our country is where it is at. Selfish, greedy and cold hearted. This statement really takes the United out of United States of America. I can see the agenda to pit the middle class against each other is working as expected.
Mar 17, 2011 at 2:31 p.m.
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"Surprised it took the ultra-liberal professors at UWW this long to get on the taxpayer funded solidarity train."
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So all the professors at UWW are ultra-liberal? Evidently lovemycountry believes most conservatives lack the intelligence to earn the necessary academic degrees it requires to become a professor.
Mar 17, 2011 at 2:23 p.m.
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i was a fan of the bill, merely on concept. that was before i read the whole bill. Now I'm a HUGE FAN!. My interpretation is "every man (or woman) for himself. I'll take that every day of the week and twice on sundays. Less fat for the weaker links, means more for the stronger ones. Thank you governor.
Mar 17, 2011 at 1:15 a.m.
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Ellipcyst,
Don't blame Walker, his public school teachers didn't prepare him for a post secondary education adequately. No wonder he has a vendetta.
Escaping the chains of the public school system and left to his own devices, he succeeded quite proficiently. He overcame that deficient hurdle.
Mar 16, 2011 at 9:43 p.m.
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Zeussmom, good one.
Mar 16, 2011 at 9:39 p.m.
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My kid has only one more year of school for his degree, but at this rate he wont be able to finish. On the up side, he has what it takes to be governor...
Mar 16, 2011 at 9:14 p.m.
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nemesis, did you read the article? UW-W has no faculty union.
Mar 16, 2011 at 9 p.m.
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nemesis If you don't want a fair work place and a fair wage DON"T WOTK FOR UNIONS Look at Walkers PLAN for the people, YOU DON"T HAVE RIGHTS, YOU CANNOT COMPLAIN ABOUT BAD WORKING CONDITIONS AS THEIR IS NO ONE TO HELP YOU AS YOU CAN"T NEGOTIATE HOW IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE FOR PEOPLE IN THE WORKPLACE NOR IS THERE ANY COMPROMISING,AND NO MEDIATIONS IF YOU LOSE YOUR JOB AS REMEMBER YOU SUPPORTED THIS... THEY SAY YOU ARE FIRED, GUESS WHAT YOUR FIRED. AND NO ONE CAN HELP YA!!!!! Another point if you are fired don't count on unemploment as you cannot plead you case, Usually if you are fired there had to be a justified reason. The bill says you can't fight this with a mediator as there is no negotiating getting your job back or reasons you should get UE and IMO that means trying to tell SCOOTERS unemployment office that you were fired unfairly as They are not going to HEAR YOU!!! REMEMBER YOU WANTED THIS
Mar 16, 2011 at 8:39 p.m.
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Remember Scooter is appointing 11 of the board members and it will benifit him and his friends to have it separate and Zeussmom I agree WALKER IS NOT LISTENING to anyone regarding His decisions on our lives. The cost as stated will be out of reach for most and even more so with what Walker has planned in his attack on the people.
Mar 16, 2011 at 8:26 p.m.
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People are silly on this message board. I hope you don't have kids in college or on their way. UW is looking at a 26% increase!!!! It has tripled since 1999. At this pace, it will double in another 4 years!! There must be some other areas that can also be cut to share the pain?
Mar 16, 2011 at 8:14 p.m.
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The cuts will be more than offset by the money saved from NOT having to pay unions dues. You will also have a choice of health insurance not just the one provided by the union which could save more money.
Mar 16, 2011 at 7:56 p.m.
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Surprised it took the ultra-liberal professors at UWW this long to get on the taxpayer funded solidarity train.
Mar 16, 2011 at 7:39 p.m.
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it's going to cost alot more money to sent you kids to state college when little scooter gets done with you.. and if you want to go to madison well be prepared to really pay up once they are seperated.
Mar 16, 2011 at 6:11 p.m.
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"Sorry UW the answer is no. Walker has a plan for you and you will be informed of it five minutes after it happens." Never hurts to be heard though.
Mar 16, 2011 at 5:54 p.m.
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"My biggest concern on this is there is a lot of unknowns,"
Yeah... How would UW know how to deal with a cut?
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