WHEN WE ORGANIZE, MEMBERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER
In January 1976 elementary teachers banded together on strike for much needed planning time. Educators marched in the frigid cold weather to raise their collective voices and won!
In 2002, when Spanish and Hmong-speaking Bilingual Resource Specialists organized around pay equity they started a campaign to be compensated as professionals and won!
In 2011, when Governor Walker said he would “divide and conquer” public workers and tear away their contract rights and benefits, our Union led the challenge against his efforts. Over a hundred thousand protestors filled the Wisconsin state Capitol in the largest labor demonstration in Wisconsin history.
In 2017, members organized around increasing the minimum hourly wage to $15 per hour for all regular MMSD employees. The same year we campaigned for and won a 10% increase in starting teacher pay to attract the best and brightest educators to MMSD.
On March 13, 2020, Gov. Tony Evers ordered the state Department of Health Services to close all K-12 schools, public and private, as part of the state’s efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Wisconsin. Our school staff and communities, remained focused on providing continuity of learning, and providing meals and other resources to students.
In 2021, we won five days of COVID leave for the 2022-23 School Year. Additionally, members mobilized for school secretaries to be included in the monthly bonuses proposed by Superintendent Jenkins at the November 22, 2021 Board of Education meeting. The COVID-19 pandemic was a challenging and difficult time for everyone. School-based secretaries, in concert with other school-based staff, rose to the various challenges ensuring that families had timely information and that students had the materials they needed to continue learning from home. We kept students and families at the center of everything we do. From testifying at school board meetings, emailing the school board, writing a letter to the Superintendent and collecting signatures, and ORGANIZING with our coworkers – we lifted staff voice on this important issue and won!
In 2022, as part of our Cost of Living and Handbook campaigns, members rallied for MMSD to budget for a 4.7% cost-of-living-adjustment base wage increase and provide a $5 increase for Education Assistants, Security Assistants and Clerical/Technical Staff. On August 29, 2022 the Board of Education (BOE) approved a $2 an hour wage increase for Education Assistants, which is less than the $5 we have been striving for. The BOE held a special meeting on Monday, September 19 to discuss further potential increases. We spoke up at BOE meetings to ensure that all MMSD employees make a livable wage in Madison. Together, we showed that we are united in this campaign and support one another. We won a $5 per hour increase for Education Assistants, Security Assistants and Clerical/Technical Staff. All labor has dignity!
In 2023, our MTI Solidarity Action Committee created a year-long organizing plan to build our capacity for action. In the plan we launched the Schools Madison’s Students Deserve campaign. The campaign included an online petition, pic and quote efforts, rallies and speak outs before the Madison Board of Education, and increased communication around our campaign goals. Through member advocacy and action we achieved the highest cost-of-living base wage adjustment (based by CPI) of 8%.This means that the District agreed to provide a cost-of-living base wage increase of 8% to all teachers and staff. Your activism makes an impact! Together we win!
Great things happen with a strong and united effort through collective action.