[A]bout 212 met the deadline, according to the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission. "We're declaring to the world we're still here. We're not going away," said Doug Perry, a fifth-grade teacher at Maple Grove School in Greenfield whose union filed for recertification.



Last Friday was the deadline for school unions to apply for recertification in Wisconsin. By applying for recertification they have notified the State of Wisconsin that they want an election.

While 212 unions sounds like a lot, it is but a fraction of the unions associated with the 425 school districts across the state. There is no tracking system in the state to know how many local unions exist across all of the school districts; however, each district could have multiple unions—one for teachers, one for custodial staff, etc.

Unions that do not recertify will still exist; however, they will not have any official power to bargain with school districts. The Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) is aware of about 300 locals that are currently going forward without a contract.

Council spokeswoman Christina Brey said the unions that chose to hold elections wanted to preserve their identity, but that cost, confusion and the compressed time frame to seek recertification likely deterred or prevented others from doing the same. The law took effect in March. "Either way, they all remain unions and all will continue their advocacy in local schools and communities," she said.



Recertification will be difficult. The law requires that 51 percent of all members vote yes. A member who does not vote is counted as a no. It is clear that this law was never about reigning in costs or doing anything with the budget. It was about one thing and one thing only: busting unions.