News

Madison, WI – The AFT-Wisconsin Executive Board has endorsed the campaign to “Vote No” on the removal of the Office of the Wisconsin State Treasurer.

“I would encourage you to Vote NO on eliminating the position of State Treasurer,” said Dawn Totzke, a School Library Media Specialist in Chippewa Falls and member of AFT Local 1907.  “Save the funding that supports your school libraries. And keep our financial watchdog over our state finances!”

Why does this matter to public education? Should this amendment pass in April, Wisconsin’s Common School Fund and University Fund will be at risk by giving

Shortly following a DPI proposal on school safety and a Democrat-introduced school safety bill, Governor Walker has announced a special session to consider $100 million dollars for school safety proposals.  However, unlike proposals from the DPI that call for long-term solutions aimed at school safety improvements and mental health support for students, Governor Walker’s plan militarizes the school environment.

“Armed guards and airport like security do not create comfortable learning environments,” said Kim Kohlhaas, AFT-Wisconsin President and former educator from Superior, Wisconsin.  “After

“We asked for this publicly-available information to investigate the possibility of filing a legal challenge,” said Deb Augsburger, UWS Local 6514 President. “Though we

Listed below are the emails obtained by UWS AFT Local #6514 via open records request filed on November 14, 2017.

An addendum to reading the emails can be found here.

Emails and Documents:

• 10/18 Key Messages Document
• 10/18 Key Messages Email
• 10/20 RE_Letter to Students
• 10/30 Statement to Department Chairs Document
• 10/30 Statement to Department Chairs Email
• 10/30 UW System of Suspending an Academic Program
• 10/30 Suspending Programs at UW Superior
• 10/30 Fwd Suspending Programs at UW Superior
• 10/30 RE Suspending Programs at UW Superior
• 10/31 Academic Program Changes
• 11/02 Fwd Superior Programs
• 11/02 RE Superior

Madison, WI – Faculty, students, and staff across the UW System are reacting to the recent news that the largest UW System reorganization in 40 years was an “open secret” at the Capitol.  According to a report from Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR), “Before faculty, staff and students learned about the plan to eliminate the two-year UW Colleges and UW-Extension, UW System President Ray Cross had discussed it with a lawmaker who called for similar action in 2015.”  In a clear disregard for shared governance or the concerns of the UW community, President Cross spent weeks courting Republican

Superior, WI – On Halloween, faculty, staff, and students at the University of Wisconsin in Superior were blindsided by the administration’s blanket announcement to suspend nine majors, fifteen minors, and one masters program.  Fifteen additional programs were put on “warning” for suspension.  These program suspensions are the latest in a string of brazen attacks on public higher education in Wisconsin, and have sparked student protests and an online petition that has garnered more than 5,300 signatures. 

In a series of forums and a public announcement, the UW-Superior administration justified

Chippewa Falls, WI – School districts across Wisconsin have faced devastating budget cuts under the Walker administration, and this year’s budget is no exception.  With greatly expanded access to voucher programs, the promised per pupil increase will hardly alleviate the strain districts continue to feel.  Yet the Walker administration continues to tout their overnight change of heart when it comes to public education, and visiting the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District provides a perfect photo-op for the Governor’s re-election campaign.

“When Governor Walker says that he supports