This document announces a teach-in and rally in support of public education on February 17th. It summarizes Governor Walker's proposed budget bill, which would limit collective bargaining rights for public employees and unions. It would cap wage increases at the consumer price index and require public employees to contribute more to pensions and health care. The document argues this legislation will decrease the quality of education by reducing the competitiveness of salaries and benefits for UW System faculty and staff, and eliminating performance pay and unions. High-quality teachers may leave, and it will be harder to attract new ones. The quality of Wisconsin's education system will decline as a result.

1. Teach-in/Rallyin support of public education Thursday, February 17 12:00 noon Circle between MAC Hall and Union

2. Governor Walker’s proposed budget bill Public employee unions would be allowed to negotiate only on wages. Increases in wages for public employees would be capped at the consumer price index, and locals would have to go to referendum to exceed those limits. Public employee unions could no longer require dues, and employers could not collect them. State employees would be required to contribute 5 percent of their pay to their pension State employees would be required to pay 12 percent of their health care costs Faculty and academic staff in the UW System would lose their right to collectively bargain …even for wages

3. What is the argument? Belief: Public employees need to “pay their share” Fact: In the early 1980s, many public employees (including UW-System faculty and staff) agreed to pay freezes in exchange for a strong benefit package. Now the state wants to go back on its promise

4. Arguments? Belief: Public workers earn more than private sector employees Fact: A recent report by the Economic Policy Institute showed the following: Wisconsin public employees earn 4.8% less in total compensation per hour than comparable full-time employees in Wisconsin’s private sector. Yet: Wisconsin public sector workers are on average more highly educated than private sector workers

5. Arguments Belief: Taxpayers are “footing the bill” for public employees and the UW-System Fact: Less that 1/3 of the UW-System budget comes from tax-payer money. Even supporters of this legislation admit that it will do little to help the budget deficit and it will create no jobs.

6. Argument Belief: UW-System faculty and staff are overpaid Fact: Besides the fact that UW-System faculty and staff make less that in the private sector, a recent study by the state of Wisconsin found that system-wide, UW system salaries for faculty and staff lag their peers by nearly 10%.

7. Implications of this legislation Will make compensation for UW-System faculty and staff even less competitive than it is now, meaning: High quality teachers and staff will leave UW-System will not be able to attract or hire high quality teachers and staff

8. Eliminate performance pay This legislation mandates that increases in wages for public employees would be capped at the consumer price index (in 2010 CPI = 1.8%; inflation rate in 2010 = 1.6%) In order to exceed that costly, state-wide referenda are required, meaning that citizens would have to vote whether faculty and staff receive merit raises even though 66% of the system budget does not come from taxpayers

9. Destroy unions and collective bargaining While many people oppose unions, consider the following list of what they have done for the American worker and why unions can be part of the solution to better the working conditions for Americans

10. Union accomplishments An end to child labor The 8-hour work day, the 40-hour work week, and paid overtime Workers' compensation benefits for workers injured on the job Unemployment insurance for workers who lose their jobs Minimum wage Improvements in workplace safety and fewer on-the-job fatalities Pensions Health care insurance Paid sick leave, vacations, and holidays as standard benefits for most workers The Civil Right Acts and Title VII, which outlaws job discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin The Occupational Safety and Health Act The Family Medical Leave Act

11. Why should students care? Wisconsin has had a nationally ranked and nationally recognized public education system This would decrease the quality of education Will not attract high quality teachers to the area to maintain the prestige of the Wisconsin educational system Wages for ALL employees will be at risk, resulting in brain-drain and higher unemployment Impoverishes the entire state

12. Teach-in/Rallyin support of public education Thursday, February 17 12:00 noon Circle between MAC Hall and Union