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TAA members vote to consider striking, taking other job actions

The University of Wisconsin Teaching Assistants’ Association is one step closer to striking after union members decided unanimously Thursday to consider work stoppages and other job actions, according to a statement issued by the group.

The TAA is considering various job actions in response to failed contract negotiations with the state and the University of Wisconsin. Teaching assistants and project assistants have been working under an extension of their 2001-03 contract since July 2003, when that contract expired.

“This is a position the state and university have forced us into,” said Tina Chang, co-president of the TAA.

Approximately 350 TAA union members attended the membership meeting, where they voted to initiate a two-step process that moves the union toward strike activity. Of the approximately 3,000 TAs and PAs at UW, 1,700 are members of the TAA.

The first step of this process includes organizing TAA members and gathering signatures for a strike pledge. The second step will then be to mail out a paper ballot vote asking if members want to go on strike or perform other job actions.

Jon Puthoff, a UW graduate student and TA in the department of Materials Science and Engineering, said the vast majority of members at the meeting were in favor of taking action. He said although any actions the union might take are still tentative, a committee was formed several weeks ago to look at various ways the TAA could express their dissatisfaction with the state.

“There’s a whole spectrum of what we can do,” Puthoff said, adding that these options include walkouts, grade strikes, rallies and campaigns.

Chang said the atmosphere of the meeting was charged and many members seemed ready to take action.

“People were really empowered in that room,” Chang said.

The vote to consider job actions was the first in almost 25 years, according to the statement released by the TAA.

One of the key issues the TAA and state cannot agree on surrounds healthcare costs. The state wants the TAA to begin contributing toward their health insurance, which TAA members have traditionally received at no cost. The state has proposed a $9 a month premium for individuals and $22.50 premium a month for family health care for the current academic year. This figure may increase to $11 for individuals and $27.50 for families for the 2004-05 academic year.

According to Chang, TAA members want to see a contract that maintains zero-cost healthcare or includes a salary increase to compensate for the loss of free healthcare. Chang said UW TAs and PAs have traditionally accepted a lower salary than peer institutions in order to receive zero-cost healthcare. She said it would be difficult for UW to attract qualified graduate students with a lower salary and lack of free health care.

Although the TAA is moving forward with their plan to take action, Chang said the organization would still like to settle contract negotiations.

“The state and university have a great opportunity right now to step forward and do what’s right,” Chang said.