The Connection

It's that time of year again: Time to start preparing for negotiations! This year's Consumer Price Index (CPI) marks inflation at 4.12%. Now is the perfect time to request wage data from your district, analyze it and start creating your proposals. If you haven't done this already, we have a template you can use to request the information. Our statewide Coordinated Bargaining Kick Off happens on Tuesday February 13th on zoom from 5:30 to 7pm. Every three weeks we will have a session on a different topic. Our first session will be all about analyzing your data, what to look for in comparables, and how we define 4.12%. You can register for February 13th's session right here.

Our second session, "Where Do We Go When They Say No," will be on Thursday March 7th. That session will focus on how your team can influence decision makers in your district. I will be leading that conversation with members from the Sheboygan Education Association!

Another interesting piece of economic data to consider is how much of its ESSER Funds your district has spent. You can review that by district HERE. If you have any questions or just want to brainstorm ideas around negotiations or Meet & Confer topics, don't hesitate to reach out!

In Solidarity,

Kristin Lytie

Organizing Director

WEAC Region 3

• February 8 Zone C Meeting at 4:30pm - Holidays Pub & Grill
• February 8 National Board Support Session 5-7pm
• February 13 Fair Pay Now!
  
• February 20 SPRING PRIMARY
• February 21 Best Practices in Classroom Management
• March 3 Strategies & Tools for Anti-Racist Instruction
• March 15-17 Equity Ambassadors at the WR3 Office

WEAC/NEA is building the 2024 summer outreach program, training members – among the most trusted messengers to communicate with undecided voters – to talk about education and other key issues through a canvass program running in July and August. Member organizers commit about 20 hours a week and are compensated for their time, in addition to receiving a mileage stipend. Interested? Email Tiffany Reindl, WEAC Public Affairs, reindlt@weac.org.

Labor Notes is a weekend long conference that hosts labor activists from all over the world! The conference consists of over 200 workshops led by fellow union members whose topics include:

• Creative Organizing Tactics
• Beating Apathy
• Winning Issue Campaigns
• And more!

The Chicago Teachers’ Union usually has innovative and inspiring panels that discuss how to make the schools our students deserve- You won’t want to miss it!

The conference is at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, IL on Friday April 19-21st.

More information online!

If you are interested in attending and applying for the Region 3 scholarship please fill out this application. Region 3 will cover conference registration, hotel, mileage and meals. Application closes January 31st. Participants will be chosen by the Region 3 Organizing committee. Questions? Email LytieK@WEAC.org

BLUE-Retired offers:

• opportunities to advocate for public school educators and children
• action to protect your WRS retirement
• WEAC Savers Club for food, travel, and entertainment savings
• $1 million liability insurance while working in a bargaining unit position or volunteering in schools
• financial planning services
• retirement accounts
• join BEFORE you retire with a one-time fee for LIFETIME membership