Dear Chancellor Martin:

The Teaching Assistants’ Association requests that you cancel classes and all nonessential university activity on Friday, February 18 in order to stand in solidarity with striking public employees across the state. The members of the University of Wisconsin-Madison community should show full, unconditional support of the workers whose rights are threatened by the proposed Budget Repair Bill. It is not only the workers of Wisconsin who would be hurt by this bill but also their families, including thousands of students on our campus.

This bill is an affront to democracy on two important levels. First, it proposes to completely eliminate the fundamental human right of fair representation and voice in determining workplace conditions. Second, the process for the passage of this bill has been shamefully undemocratic. Governor Scott Walker has made a mockery of the democratic process in the last week, and the university community should not stand idle and accept this cynicism for the ideals of democracy.

Workers from all over Wisconsin have demonstrated en masse against the anti-union, anti-worker sentiment of this bill, as well as the underhanded, undemocratic manner in which Governor Scott Walker is attempting to push it forward. District Superintendents across the state have canceled class. The Chancellor of Wisconsin’s flagship university should show the same courage and leadership in this time of crisis. There will be rallies across the country tomorrow in solidarity with our efforts here in Wisconsin to stand up for collective bargaining rights and democracy.

Chancellor Martin, we request that you take decisive action in the name of fair representation, democracy, equity, and solidarity. We request that you stand together with the citizens of Wisconsin who refuse to accept the draconian provisions in this Budget Repair Bill and the inexcusable actions of Governor Walker. We request your leadership and support.

Sincerely,
Kevin Gibbons and Alex Hanna
Co-Presidents of the TAA

For Immediate Release
Contact:
Alex Hanna, 765-404-6996
Kevin Gibbons, 813-466-0952

Governor Scott Walker’s contention that his budget repair bill is about balancing the budget, and that concessions demanded from state workers are “modest,” is blatantly untrue. We demand that he represent the bill as what it is – a stripping of our collective bargaining rights.

Walker told press this afternoon that the bill asks workers for an increase in health care and pension contributions. At no point did he mention that the bill would decimate the right of public sector workers to bargain collectively – which is what has brought out tens of thousands of workers from around the state to the Capitol for four days.

We realize financial concessions will need to be made in these tough economic times. However, getting rid of our right to bargain over anything other than wages is not a budgetary measure. It is a measure that would strip us of our rights. A bid for modest increases to health care and pension contributions would not bring out tens of thousands of protestors and close schools across the state.

Please, Gov. Walker, be honest about what’s in your bill. If you’re embarrassed about the fact you’re proposing to strip us of our rights then take it out of the bill.

The Teaching Assistants’ Association is calling for a “teach out” — for all action on campus tomorrow to cease for a second day. This is a sign of solidarity with our elected representatives who have left the state to protect us from a bill that would quash our democratic rights to collectively bargain, and with the tens of thousands of people from around the state who continue to occupy the Capitol.

We value education and thus we are calling for instructors to use their discretion to cancel classes, reschedule them or hold them off campus. We are calling on action from teaching assistants, research assistants, project assistants and professors.

We realize this is not the strongest action we could call for. We are calling for it because we do not want learning to stop. We are students and teachers, and we are here in Madison because we value learning. We are here in the Capitol because we are concerned about the impacts the bill would have on the quality of teaching and learning at the University of Wisconsin.

For immediate release

Contact:
Alex Hanna, 765-404-6996
Kevin Gibbons, 813-466-0952

For immediate release
Contact:
Alex Hanna, 765-404-6996
Kevin Gibbons, 813-466-0952

Hundreds of students, chanting “Show me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!” filled State Street at 10 a.m. They marched to the Capitol for the beginning of the Senate session that will consider the union-busting budget repair bill at 11 a.m.

The call for a “teach-out” went out last night after a vote by the membership of the Teaching Assistant Association. It was organized by both undergraduate and graduate students, and received endorsements from many departments on campus. The aim was not to stop learning on campus, but to move campus activities to outside locations or to reschedule them, in a bid to speak out with one voice against the bill.

After the organized march, dozens continued to trickle up the street, joining the student protestors and thousands of workers from around the state at the Capitol building. Schools in Madison, Monona Grove, Verona, Oregon, Middleton Waunakee, Deforest, and Oshkosh were closed, and teachers and other workers pored into the Capitol.

Pass it on.

Talking Points Memo – Mad in Madison: Wisconsin Workers Protest Against Governor’s Budget Proposals

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/gallery/2011/02/mad-in-madison-wisconsin-workers-protest-against-governors-budget-proposals.php?img=1

NBC 15 – Obama Says He’s Monitoring Tensions in Madison

http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/President_Obama_Says_Hes_Monitoring_Tensions_In_Madison_116361019.html

The Nation – Green Bay Packers Sound Off Against Gov. Scott “Hosni” Walker

http://www.thenation.com/blog/158636/green-bay-packers-sound-against-gov-scott-hosni-walker

Christian Science Monitor – In Wisconsin Standoff, a test: Has governor gone overboard to trim deficit?

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2011/0216/In-Wisconsin-standoff-a-test-Has-governor-gone-overboard-to-trim-deficit

Los Angeles Times – Thousands rally at Wisconsin Capitol to protest anti-union bill

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-wisconsin-unions-20110217,0,5008506.story

PARTS OF THE BILL THAT WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO:

Wisconsin State Journal – Walker proposes to increase number of appointed employees in state government

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_12a4729a-3a34-11e0-961c-001cc4c002e0.html

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel – Walker says his budget bill could change in response to GOP lawmakers legislative committee expected to begin budget bill consideration shortly

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/116301539.html

Senator Feingold will be on The Rachel Maddow show to talk about what’s happening here in Wisconsin tonight!