A Letter to Non-Union Teachers in Wisconsin
Dear Non-Union Teachers in Wisconsin,
Let me start by introducing myself. I’m Hallie, a 27-year old, fifth year teacher in South Milwaukee, WI. I am certified to teach math, special education, and alternative education. I currently teach in a unique program that is dedicated to meeting the social/emotional needs of students who have been disengaged in school in order to make progress with academic goals. My classroom experience allows me to utilize and continue to develop my professional training for students with intensive needs. Like many of you, I love the work that I do, but I am also very concerned about the world of education outside of my classroom.
I began teaching in 2010 which, coincidentally, is when sh*t hit the fan for public workers/educators in Wisconsin. Our governor (like so many other politicians in the United States) was able to pass Act 10, a law that stifled the voices of teachers and advocates for public education through the elimination of collective bargaining rights. This was a confusing time for me. I had just started teaching and was excited about the work I was doing. But outside of school, my family, friends, neighbors, and media expressed that they felt unions were to blame for the ‘failure’ of our public schools. Their thoughts did not match with what I was learning about public schools through my direct experience.
At work, I was inspired by the intelligent, dedicated, and hardworking staff who quickly sprung into action to inform others about the potentially disastrous effects of Act 10. I wanted to learn more from them. To me, these were realeducators – down to fight the battle to bring professionalism back to teaching, at the front lines to advocate for what is best for students, all with a deep understanding of social justice and the many different challenges our students face in their everyday lives. The teachers were part of their professional organization, a.k.a. the union. Among them, I was so proud to be a teacher! This feeling was in direct contrast to how I felt outside the classroom walls. I never wanted to share what my profession was with others. I was too worried I’d hear the word, “mooch,” “union thug,” “freeloader,” or become defensive and get into a hate-filled political battle. I still have a hard time understanding how the views were so far apart and how insensitive people were to me. I was a new teacher.
I was disheartened when I learned that there were people within the profession who also held negative beliefs or spoke inaccurately about teachers and unionism. I have had countless conversations with non-members who say that they will not join the union. Frankly, the reasons and rationale I have heard really scare me. If teachers don’t understand what’s going on in education, how can we expect parents, community members, or even administrators to understand? How can we expect more support and resources for our students and schools? Can any of us alone accomplish these large tasks?
I hear four very common responses to why people choose not to be a part of their professional organization:
- Due to Act 10, there is no longer a union in our district (I know teachers in many districts!)
- I don’t know why we have a union – it’s the 21st century
- I have a good administrator, so I’ll be fine
- I can’t afford it.
You say, “my school doesn’t have a union.” Who do you think the union is? Some outside agency or outside group of people not involved in education? The union is YOU. The definition of a union is: “an organization of workers formed to protect the rights and interests of its members” and “an act of joining two or more things together.” This means, as a A Letter to Non-Union Teachers in Wisconsin | Young Teachers Collective:
