September 4, 2020
MEMBERSHIP EDITION, Vol. 5, #1

Hello All -

On Monday, many of us will enjoy an extra day off from work in observation of Labor Day. Amid beer, brats, and BBQs, it’s important to take some time to acknowledge Labor Day for what it truly is – a tribute to the labor movement and everyday working families. This Labor Day, I encourage you to throw on a Union t-shirt or button and take some time to reflect on what we, as a Union, have accomplished. From national campaigns to support strong public schools to local referendums – we can make a difference in our schools and our communities.

Labor Day is also a time to pay homage to those who struggled, went on strike, and died to ensure we would have the right to organize, have safe workplaces, and respect on the job. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated in New York City on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in which 10,000 workers marched during a one-day strike. Among their demands were “Less Work and More Pay,” an eight-hour workday and a prohibition on the use of convict labor. Following the deaths of 13 workers during the Pullman Strike in June of 1894, President Grover Cleveland made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894.

You can read more about the history of Labor Day by clicking here.

We hope you have a wonderful Labor Day as proud Union members of WEAC Region 3 and your Local Education Association!

In Solidarity,

Erin Karsten
Regional Director
WEAC Region 3
The WEAC Region 3 Office will be closed Monday, September 7 to celebrate Labor Day.
To see how different cities and labor councils are celebrating go here: https://www.wisaflcio.org/news/labor-day-2020.

To acknowledge those candidates running for office, who are active or retired union members, or in a union household, the WI AFL-CIO is hosting virtual phone banks next week to call into their regions and mobilize union households to vote for Biden and the union candidate.
Please join them Sept 8-12! Calls are made anytime from 10am-8pm

If you have an hour or two to make calls, sign up here at https://www.wisaflcio.org/mobilize. You will need a phone and computer with internet.

In Northeast WI they will be calling into Kristina Shelton’s district, AD 90. Shelton is from an AFT household and a strong supporter of workers’ rights. Email here for this region.

In Northcentral WI they will be calling into Jeff Johnson’s district, AD 85, which overlaps Congressional District 7, where Tricia Zunker is running. Johnson is a retired AFSCME and Zunker is a member of SAG-AFTRA. Email here for this region.

And in the region west of the Fox Valley and North of Madison, Joni Anderson is running for SD 14. Anderson is a retired UE 1107. Email here for this region.

With COVID 19 affecting how we can safely gather and celebrate, I hope you take time to acknowledge all unions have done for workers in this nation. Please take Monday to rest and reflect. And after that, get to mobilizing union members to VOTE!

The 10-Minute Meeting
You have an opportunity to keep members in the loop AND respect their time by holding 10-minute meetings! It's also a great time to get feedback from people in the building. 

Get out there and BE VISIBLE!

How can we have 10-minute meetings during the pandemic? Now is probably the BEST time to reach out to your members! Facebook live, Google hangouts, Zoom...
For more details about how the 10-minute meeting works, click  here.
For previous 10-minute meeting topics:
January: Retirement

The August 10-Minute Meeting topic:

Keeping Your School Safe

Schools have reopened and most of you are going back to face-to-face instruction in some capacity. Keeping close contact with your fellow educators is going to be important as we navigate how well our safety plans work in real life. Ten-minute meetings can be a valuable space for members to check in with concerns in regard to Covid-19. You can also use this space to see who is interested in being a part of a health and safety committee to work on these safety concerns.

Some issues to discuss:
  • Have there been any asthmatic reactions to the chemicals used to clean?
  • Is the PPE working effectively?
  • Does the PPE fit?
  • Is there a space for people showing symptoms to isolate?
  • Are there ample hand washing/sanitizing stations?
  • Is there a full time nurse for each building?
  • What resources would better fit your school?
WELCOME
NEW MEMBERS in AUGUST:
124!!
We're stronger
every day!
WEAC Join NOW
ONLINE
Member Sign Up

Easy, fast online feature supports your membership efforts
 
WEAC online member sign-up, Join Now, is now available to provide a convenient and fast way for educators to become members of our union.
 
 
In a series of simple screens, educators can enter their information to become a member. This feature is especially useful during one-on-one membership conversations. While the process is entirely online, it is recommended that organizers and leaders stay with educators through the sign-up process to answer any questions that might arise.

For an overview of the Join Now experience, click here.
WEAC
WEAC state officers will hold a series of leadership workshops in September. Please spread the word in your District. Information and registration link.
Special Education Networking Meeting
When: September 21 @ 4:30 PM
 
Register in advance for this meeting HERE.
 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Tracking the Spread of Covid-19
Distance
Covid-19 is spreading through out the state. We need to keep each other informed so Region 3 is asking you to share information about what is happening on the ground in your district.

Let Region 3 know about Covid-19 cases in your district HERE.

It is our hope that this information will create a shareable database for educators to refer to and confirm cases in their districts or buildings.
Register for our Region 3 VIRTUAL Meeting!
WEDNESDAY, September 16, 4:30 - 5:30 pm
 
Please note that you need to PRE-Register for the meeting.Then an email will be sent to you with the login link.
We are doing our best to Zoombomb-proof our meeting!
 
Agenda:
1) Return to school.
2) Time for sharing! What's going on in your area?
 
We look forward to SEEING you!
It's a good idea to log in a few minutes early
to get the audio and video working on your device.
EDUCATION SUPPORT PERSONNEL CONNECTION CALL FOR ALL ESP'S
WEAC Region 3 would now like to invite members and potential members to these meetings. This is your opportunity, Region 3 members, to bring a non-member friend. Let's show them the value of union membership!
 
Region 3 created an ESP Connection Call to check in with one another, keep each other in the loop and plan our next steps. It was discovered that now more than ever ESP staff need to be in contact with each other to discuss what their districts are doing, best practices and how to implement them in their own district. The global pandemic has revealed that schools are the social safety nets for many of our communities and that those safety nets work because you do.
 
 
Please join us on Tuesday, September 8 at 4:30 pm via zoom to participate in this important conversation. 
 
 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.