October 1, 2014
Dear members of AFT Local 3535 (TAUWP),
I hope the Fall semester is progressing well for all and that everyone is finding some time to enjoy the very pleasant weather we have been having as of late. Who knows what winter has in store for us this time around!
This newsletter includes the following:
1. Report on recent actions by members of our union
2. News from the September 26, 2014 meeting
3. Get involved: upcoming opportunities for action and participation
4. Meeting and event dates for the Fall 2014 semester
1. Recent Actions
· AFT Local 3535 presence at the recent Chancellor “Listening Sessions”
A big thanks to Local 3535 members Ty Bender, Kim Cosier, Mauricio Kilwein Guevara, Janice Mahlberg, and Tom Moore for representing our union at the “Listening Sessions” conducted over the course of September by the university’s search committee for the new chancellor. Thanks to these members the union’s enjoyed representation at five of six sessions! All of our representatives emphasized to the committee that the new chancellor must be invested in the pursuit of a new policy for fair and equitable wages at UWM for all members of our community.
· AFT Local 3535 members protest practices of UWM’s charter school
Members of our union were also recently involved in a picket in front of Enderis Hall protesting the “Urban Day School” (UWM’s charter school). The charter school recently began a practice of incentivizing (read: bribing) children’s enrollment by paying parents $100 dollars for any student enrolled by September 19th (the day the DPI determines funding per school based on enrollment). The picket was organized by the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association (MTEA). AFT Local 3535 protestors included Mauricio Kilwein Guevara and Sandra Pucci, among others.
2. September 26 meeting of AFT Local 3535
This past Friday the union held the first of two official meetings salted for this semester. Unlike the meetings held in May at the Riverwest Public House and in August at Estabrook Park, this was an event restricted to general membership.
Some of the major developments from this meeting:
o New Executive Board positions: A motion was made by Tom Moore and seconded by Mark Evenson to initiate a change to the local’s Constitution, creating two new executive officer positions. One will represent and come from Academic Staff; the other will represent and come from Faculty. This motion passed unanimously. I will begin work to implement this change to the union’s Constitution.
o Newsletter Timetable: The AFT Local 3535 newsletter will now be published monthly during the academic year. It will be disseminated initially by email as well as being archived on 3535’s website.
o New Visuals: We discussed the importance of being visually present on campus. To this end, the first of four posters for the academic year 2014-2015 was debuted at the meeting. Members agreed to display our poster prominently outside offices and around the workplace. While the first poster is a general statement of the union’s identity and active status, the next version will address fairness and equity. Please note: I have copies of the poster and I am happy to drop by your place of work to provide as many as you like!
o Organizing Committee Discussion: See below under “Get Involved”
o Treasurer’s Report: See attached report from Treasurer Bryan Kennedy
o “3535 PAC”: The meeting concluded with a discussion of the ongoing formation of the union’s new Political Action Committee. Bryan Kennedy has finished registration of the PAC with the Government Accountability Board. The purpose the PAC, as stated in previous newsletters, is to allow the union to engage more forcefully and visibly in the political process beyond the UWM campus. The next step in this process is to explore the possible models for drafting bylaws. It is planned that “3535 PAC” will be fully operational by the spring election cycle. Please see the announcement below (under “Get Involved”) concerning an upcoming special meeting for planning the direction and objectives of the new PAC.
3. Get Involved: Upcoming Opportunities for Action and Participation
· Call for a new Organizing Committee
As discussed at the general membership meeting, it is critical that we continue to reinvigorate and to grow our membership. This fall, Mauricio and I will begin a new membership drive, to include office visits, which will continue throughout the academic year. In order for this effort to succeed, however, all members are encouraged to participate in office visits and to informally reach out to colleagues in order to expand our ranks. It is of paramount importance that the membership see AFT 3535 as a service-based union, where the participation of each member is critical to our future viability.
To this end, we are looking to build a new organizing committee dedicated to the expansion of union membership. Our AFT representative on campus, John Fleissner, will be hosting training for the committee on the following dates:
Wednesday, October 15, 4-5p, Riverwest Public House (RPH)
Thursday, October 16, noon-12:45 Gasthaus (UWM Student Union)
Friday, October 17, 4-5p, RPH
Reminder announcements will be forthcoming. All members of the union are encouraged to attend in order to discuss strategies for meeting with colleagues and securing new membership. This initiative is a test not only of our institution’s will to take action and to pursue a progressive agenda, but also a measure of the sincerity of our union’s convictions and collective will.
· Special meeting for discussion of bylaws and objectives of “3535 PAC”
On Thursday, October 23, 4-6 p at the Riverwest Public House, interested union members are invited to join in a discussion concerning the establishment of bylaws and oversight for the union’s new Political Action Committee, “3535 PAC.” As discussed at the general membership meeting, it is hoped that the PAC will serve as a new incentive for growing interest in our union and for expanding the influence of UWM faculty and academic staff beyond the campus.
· Mary Burke Campaign: Lend a hand through “Workers Voice,” our State AFLCIO PAC
Workers Voice, the PAC for the State AFLCIO, needs volunteers to improve our chances of winning the gubernatorial election in November. The PAC is looking for help in phone banking and canvassing up until the election. Our very own Pat Goldstein is involved in the local effort, and asks that interested members or friends contact her at 414 614-3503.
Pat can help set folks for volunteer shifts. Basically, the shifts are for 3 hour on Mondays thru Saturdays at 10am, 1pm, 4pm, and 5pm. Sundays there are shifts at 1pm and 4pm (shifts don’t run in the event of Packer games).
If our members or friends could come out for only one shift any day before the election, it would make a big difference. Workers Voice is looking to set up an “AFT” phone banking night for Thursday, Oct. 23rd between 4-8pm, and if people can come between those hours for even a 2 hr. shift, that would be great. Everyone who comes will get a brief orientation from staff before they begin.
· Call for union representation at the Chancellor candidate’s job talks
Building on the success of our members’ actions at the recent Chancellor “Listening Sessions,” we want to ensure that the union’s views are represented at the upcoming Chancellor candidates’ job talks. It is critical that we continue to advocate for a Chancellor who will support an active dialogue with ALL campus workers, who is comfortable with and has experience working in partnership with unions, and who is genuinely committed to shared governance and democratic representation on campus. The dates for the candidate job talks will be released soon, and we will once again issue a call for volunteers to speak on behalf of the union at each event.
4. Meeting and event dates for the Fall 2014 semester
· Next General Membership Meeting
The second AFT Local 3535 general membership meeting for this semester will be held on Thursday, November 20, from 6-8 PM. The venue will be announced in the next newsletter.
· AFT Local 3535 Social
The union will host a social on Friday, December 12, from 4-6 PM at the Riverwest Public House. There will be free hors d'oeuvres and one complimentary beer or wine or soda for all 3535 members.
In solidarity,
Richard Leson
President, AFT Local 3535 (TAUWP)