We, the undersigned members of AFT-W, demand the AFT-W Executive Board conduct a referendum on the issue of merger with WEAC and ask this referendum question,"Should AFT-W and WEAC merge under the terms and conditions set forth in the documents drafted by the Unity Committee of 2013? Yes or No"
We ask the referendum be conducted and completed during the November 2013 thru March 2014 period.
BACKGROUND. AFT-W has been a democratically managed organization since 1931. The AFT-W Constitution, Article XII pages 10 and 11, permits the AFT-W Executive Board to order and conduct a referendum of all members. It also allows 5 or more AFT-W locals representing not less than 10% of the total AFT-W members to order the Executive Board to conduct such a referendum.
This petition is a petition from members of a wide variety of locals, to the Executive Board to order such a referendum.
RATIONALE. Locals in AFT-W have a long tradition of delegating to a small group of members the authority to negotiate a tentative contract with management. Once that tentative agreement (TA) is reached the proposed contract is provided to ALL the members of the local and ALL the members have the opportunity to vote on the contract in a ratification vote. If a majority of members vote yes the tentative contract is ratified. If a majority votes no, the bargaining team goes back to work.
Contracts, as important as they are, only relate to one local.
The AFT-W WEAC merger agreement relates to ALL LOCALS and ALL MEMBERS IN THE STATE FEDERATION.
It is imperative that ALL members in AFT-W have the power and authority to decide our future as a union. Thus we demand an up or down vote on to merge or not to merge at this time and that we voice our decision through the referendum process.
To not conduct a referendum on the merger issue would be a violation of the democratic process that AFT-W has operated under for the last 82 years.
It is wise for the AFT-W Executive Board to accept this membership petition and order a referendum.
Thank you!
Updates
November 14, 2013
The Executive Board has yet to acknowledge our formal requests for a referendum. Silence from leadership does not discourage us because it only highlights the necessity of this direct member action. We continue to organize across our various locals to ensure the membership retains its democratic authority.
November 14, 2013
The steady growth of this petition reflects a clear desire from the membership for direct participation in our organizational future. This level of engagement confirms that the demand for a formal referendum remains a central priority for our colleagues.
11 Comments
Why are they so afraid to let the actual members decide? Just put it to a vote already so we can move forward one way or the other. Enough with the backroom deals.
this issue should be decide the membership, not a delegation. We should have our next convention in October 2014, bot April 2014
Will WPEC be forgotten about? Will dues be raised?Give us some answers then, Give us a vote.
I've always had the opportunity to vote on union referendums, officers and contracts. The merger initiative is a no -brainer. Everyone votes.
Let's put the force of a majority of our members behind merger. The political climate in WI reminds me of Franklin's admonition. "We must hang together or surely we shall be hanged separately."
President of AFT-6100, MATC Part-Time Faculty Union
Let the members decide.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
We, the undersigned members of AFT-W, demand the AFT-W Executive Board conduct a referendum on the issue of merger with WEAC and ask this referendum question,"Should AFT-W and WEAC merge under the terms and conditions set forth in the documents drafted by the Unity Committee of 2013? Yes or No"
We ask the referendum be conducted and completed during the November 2013 thru March 2014 period.
BACKGROUND. AFT-W has been a democratically managed organization since 1931. The AFT-W Constitution, Article XII pages 10 and 11, permits the AFT-W Executive Board to order and conduct a referendum of all members. It also allows 5 or more AFT-W locals representing not less than 10% of the total AFT-W members to order the Executive Board to conduct such a referendum.
This petition is a petition from members of a wide variety of locals, to the Executive Board to order such a referendum.
RATIONALE. Locals in AFT-W have a long tradition of delegating to a small group of members the authority to negotiate a tentative contract with management. Once that tentative agreement (TA) is reached the proposed contract is provided to ALL the members of the local and ALL the members have the opportunity to vote on the contract in a ratification vote. If a majority of members vote yes the tentative contract is ratified. If a majority votes no, the bargaining team goes back to work.
Contracts, as important as they are, only relate to one local.
The AFT-W WEAC merger agreement relates to ALL LOCALS and ALL MEMBERS IN THE STATE FEDERATION.
It is imperative that ALL members in AFT-W have the power and authority to decide our future as a union. Thus we demand an up or down vote on to merge or not to merge at this time and that we voice our decision through the referendum process.
To not conduct a referendum on the merger issue would be a violation of the democratic process that AFT-W has operated under for the last 82 years.
It is wise for the AFT-W Executive Board to accept this membership petition and order a referendum.
Thank you!
Updates
November 14, 2013
The Executive Board has yet to acknowledge our formal requests for a referendum. Silence from leadership does not discourage us because it only highlights the necessity of this direct member action. We continue to organize across our various locals to ensure the membership retains its democratic authority.
November 14, 2013
The steady growth of this petition reflects a clear desire from the membership for direct participation in our organizational future. This level of engagement confirms that the demand for a formal referendum remains a central priority for our colleagues.
11 Comments
I and others were outvoted at the Convention, but I continue to think it is a good idea - the fact that most of our prospective membership knows little about it, will come back to haunt us.
Why are they so afraid to let the actual members decide? Just put it to a vote already so we can move forward one way or the other. Enough with the backroom deals.
this issue should be decide the membership, not a delegation. We should have our next convention in October 2014, bot April 2014
Will WPEC be forgotten about? Will dues be raised?Give us some answers then, Give us a vote.
I've always had the opportunity to vote on union referendums, officers and contracts. The merger initiative is a no -brainer. Everyone votes.
Let's put the force of a majority of our members behind merger. The political climate in WI reminds me of Franklin's admonition. "We must hang together or surely we shall be hanged separately."
President of AFT-6100, MATC Part-Time Faculty Union
Let the members decide.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 50 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
I and others were outvoted at the Convention, but I continue to think it is a good idea - the fact that most of our prospective membership knows little about it, will come back to haunt us.