All rights reserved. /* All rights reserved. columns: 1; z-index: 1000; .main-content a::after, Scott Walker and the state Legislature passed Act 10, which stripped public employee unions of most of their collective bargaining rights. AFT-Wisconsin Spring 2022 Endorsements AFT-Wisconsin COPE has endorsed the following candidates for the spring 2022 election happening on April 5, 2022. Check out our endorsed candidates, then let us know how you'd like to get involved. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); John Benson, State Superintendent*Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Bert Grover, State Superintendent*Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Rep. Gwen Moore,U.S. 800-362-8034. The union endorses candidates for public office and has a state political action committee that raised more than $1 million during the 2020 election cycle, donating over $700,000 to left-leaning groups and politicians including the Greater Wisconsin Committee PAC, Wisconsin Progress PAC, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, and Governor Tony Evers (D). Accessed October 7, 2021. Not only is he continuing to accept thousands of dollars in endorsements from the state teachers union, but he is proud totouttheir endorsement: Its a strategy thats questionable at best, considering how Terry McAuliffe fared aftertrotting outteachers union president Randi Weingarten towards the end of his losing campaign in Virginia. .slide__text a { Chapter Leader Archives Page .views-element-container, Join us in congratulating our 2022 scholars! } California (CA) Jimmy Gomez. Wisconsin teachers work a little less than 190 days out of the year, with 15 weeks of vacation and holidays off. Rural Schools. Wisconsin Education Association Council. { Revenue: $7,351,394 columns: 2; Accessed October 7, 2021. Copyright 2017-2022. Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) is a left-of-center teachers' union representing teachers and other public-school employees in Wisconsin. .main-content a[href^="http:"], The Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), the state's largest union of educators, recommends Dr. Jill Underly for the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Now is the time to get involved. */ /* With pay raises only available by moving to a higher-paying district, more teachers are moving between districts within the state. Subscribe today for home delivery + online access, or online-only annual or monthly access! ******* Senator Ron Johnson Just one year after the passage of Act 10, teachers median benefits were cut by 18.6 percent and their median pay fell by 2.6 percent, according to data collected by researchers from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. columns: 2; Six years later, according to a recent analysis by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, teacher compensation has dropped; turnover rates have gone up; and the teaching force as a whole has become less experienced. display: none; border: 1px solid #373737; ************ orphans: 2; MADISON On Monday and Tuesday this week, Nada For Wisconsin announced three new labor endorsements: American Federation of Teachers Wisconsin (AFT Wisconsin), Madison Teachers Inc. (MTI), and Teaching Assistants Association UW Madison (TAA). h1 { font-size: 3.5rem; } font-size: 2.5rem; Contact: Christina Brey, WEAC Public Affairs Director, 608.213.3497. There is hope and excitement that hasnt been here for decades, we are renewing Madisons proud progressive tradition., Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin echoed this sentiment in their endorsement last week. display: list-item; { a.button, Fixes a padding issue on the bottom of Single Curated Featured Content blocks [21] [22], The Wisconsin Education Association is led by President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen, who took over as union president in 2021 when former president Ron Martin was elected to the National Education Associations executive committee. .main-content a[href^="/"] ****************** body, of Revenue: Distributes just under $1.4 billion in shared revenue to local governments, schools, tech colleges and special districts, WisPolitics luncheon with Democratic legislative leaders, WisPolitics luncheon with Joint Finance Committee co-chairs, WisPolitics/WisBusiness: Madison Club Town & Gown event. text-align: left; [CDATA[/* >*/, Wisconsin teachers suffer after unions decimated, School Counselors Chapter Newsletter - January 2023, Queens communities oppose Success colocations, Involving your members in legislation and political action, Using the Chapter Leader Update to expand your chapter newsletter, Inviting guest speakers to chapter meetings, Administrative Education Officers and Analysts, Directors of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Programs, Education Officers and Education Analysts, Birch Family Services Chapter Representatives, Informal (legally-exempt) Provider Rights, Resources for School Security Supervisors, Workers Comp Forms for School Security Supervisors, Making the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences, Foreign Language Teachers Executive Board, Alternatives to Dissection in Biology Education, High School Students' Attitudes Toward Animals, Research that Advances Human Health Without Harming Animals, Toxic Substances and Trash in Our Environment, Designing A Professional Learning Program, Federal Laws, Regulations and Policy Guidance, State laws, regulations & policy guidance, Pension for regular subs and part-time adult ed teachers, VP for Career & Technical Education High Schools, Enhanced authority for consultation committees, Article Four Pension and Retirement Program, Article Five Licensure, Assignment and Appointment, Article Seven Assignments and Facilities, Article Eleven Retention, Excessing and Layoff, Article Thirteen Union Activities, Privileges, and Responsibilities, Article Fifteen Due Process and Review Procedures, Article Eighteen Working Conditions of Per Diem Substitutes, Article Twenty Progressive Redesign Opportunity Schools For Excellence (PROSE), Article Twenty-Two Conformity to Law-Saving Clause, Article Twenty-Five Notice-Legislative Action, Article Twenty-Seven Incorporation of Determination and Award, Appendix C New Continuum Dispute Resolution, Appendix D Procedures for Probably Cause Hearings, Article Nine Due Process And Review Procedures, Article Ten Union Activities, Privileges And Responsibilities, Article Eleven Complaint and Grievance Procedures, Laboratory Specialists and Laboratory Technicians, Article Thirteen Union Activities, Privileges and Responsibilities, Article Nineteen Rates of Pay and Working Conditions of Per Session Laboratory Specialists, Article Twenty-One Progressive Redesign Opportunity Schools For Excellence (PROSE), Article Twenty Two Conformity of LawSaving Clause, Article Twenty-Five Notice Legislative Action, Article Twenty Seven Incorporation of Determination and Award, Nurses, Physical and Occupational Therapists, Supervisors of Nurses and Supervising Therapists, Article Four Health Insurance, Pensions and Other Benefits, Article Six Damage or Destruction of Property, Article Nine Sick Leave and Annual Leave, Article Ten Leave without Pay for Study, Article Fourteen Assignments, Transfers and Summer Work, Article Fifteen Excessing, Layoff and Recall, Article Seventeen Due Process and Review Procedures, Article Eighteen Complaint and Grievance Procedures, Article Nineteen Discharge Review Procedure, Article Twenty-Three Agency Fee Deducation, Article Twenty-Four Political Check-Off, Article Twenty-Five Conformity to Law-Saving Clause, Article Twenty-Seven Notice-Legislative Action, Article Thirty-One Progressive Redesign Opportunity Schools for Excellence (PROSE), Appendix B New Continuum Dispute Resolution, Article Five Health Insurance, Welfare Fund and Benefits, Article Eleven Instructional Conditions in Schools, Article Twelve School Retentions and Excessing, Article Fifteen Labor/Management Committee On Long Term Reforms, Article Sixteen Staffing New Or Redesigned Schools, Article Seventeen Assault and Injury In Line of Duty, Article Eighteen Excusable Absences With Pay, Article Twenty-Two Complaint and Grievance Procedure, Article Twenty-Three Discharge Review Procedures, Article Twenty-Six Information At The School, Article Twenty-Eight Consulation With Union Committee, Article Thirty Restriction On Union Activities, Article Thirty-Three Conformity to Law-Saving Clause, Article Thirty-Six Minimum Educational Requirements, Article Thirty-Eight Notice Legislative Action, Article Thirty-Nine School-Wide Bonus Program, Article Forty District 79 Reorganization, Article Forty-Two Lead Educational Associate, Article Forty-One Progressive Redesign Opportunity Schools for Excellence (PROSE), Appendix A Improper Assignment of UFT Paraprofessionals, Appendix G Closing of Island and Horizon Academies, Article Three Salaries and Benefits of Day School Counselors, Article Seven Assignments and Counseling Conditions, Article Thirteen Union Activities, Privledges and Responsibilities, Article Eighteen Professional Conciliation, Article Nineteen Rates of Pay and Working Conditions of Per Session Counselors, Article Twenty-Two Working Conditions of Per Diem Substitutes, Article Twenty-Four Progressive Redesign Opportunity Schools For Excellence (PROSE), Article Twenty-Eight Notice-Legislative Action, Article Thirty Incorporation of Determination and Award, Appendix B Use of Guidance Counselor Title, Appendix E Procedures for Probably Cause Hearings, Appendix I Closing of Island and Horizon Academies, Article Four Pension And Retirement Program, Article Thirteen Transfers and Staffing, Article Fourteen Union Activities, Privileges And Responsibilities, Article Sixteen Due Process and Review Procedures, Article Nineteen Working Conditions of School Secretary Assistants, Article Twenty Working Conditions of Substitute School Secretary Interns, Article Twenty-One Working of Per Diem Substitutes, Article Twenty-Two Working Conditions of Day-to-Day (Occasional) Substitute School Secretaries, Article Twenty-Four Conformity to LawSaving Clause, Article Twenty-Nine Incorporation of Determination and Award, Article Thirty Incorporation of Determination and Award, Appendix B Grievance Form Step One Grievance, Appendix D Procedures For Probable Cause Hearings, Article Three Salaries and Benefits of Psychologists and Social Workers, Article Six Hours of Psychologists and Social Workers, Article Seven Assignments and Facilities of Psychologists and Social Workers, Article Eighteen Professional Concilation, Article Nineteen Conditions and Benefits Applicable To Mental Health Workers, Article Twenty Working Conditions of Per Diem Substitute, Article Twenty-Three Psychologist and Social Worker Workload, Article Twenty-Four Progressive Redesign Opportunity Schools For Excellence, Article Twenty-Five Conformity To Law-Saving Clause, Appendix A Grievance Forms Step 1 Grievance, Appendix C New Continuum Dispute Respolution, Appendix D Procedures for Probable Cause Hearings, Article Three Salaries and Benefits of Day School Teachers, Article Five Licensure, Assignments and Appointment, Article Seven Programs, Assignments and Teaching Conditions in Schools and Programs, Article Nine Procedures for Handling Special Behavior Problems, Article Eleven Rates of Pay and Working Conditions of Teachers Assigned, Education Administrators, Education Analysts, Education Officers and Professional Development Assignments and Positions, Article Thirteen Working Conditions of Per Diem Substitutes, Subsitute Vocational Assistants and Teacher's Assistants, Article Fourteen Rates of Pay and Working Conditions of Adult Education Teachers, Article Fifteen Rates of Pay and Working Conditions of Per Session Teachers, Article Seventeen Retention, Excessing and Layoff, Article Eighteen Transfers and Staffing, Article Nineteen Union Activities, Privileges and Responsibilities, Article Twenty-One Due Process and Review Procedures, Article Twenty-Three Special Complaints, Article Twenty-Four Professional Concilation, Article Twenty-Six Progressive Redesign Opportunity Schools for Excellence (PROSE), Article Twenty-Seven Conformity to Law-Saving Clause, Article Thirty Notice-Legislative Action, Article Thirty-One Copy of the Agreement, Article Thirty-Two Incorporation of Determination and Award, Appendix A Salary Schedules of Day School Teachers, Appendix C Grievance Forms Step 1 Grievance, Appendix F Salary Schedules of Adult Education Teachers, Appendix G Procedures for Probable Cause Hearings, Appendix H Housing Support Program for Shortage Area Teachers, Appendix N Closing of Island and Horizon Academies, Rights and benefits information for military service members and veterans, Administrative Education Officers & Analysts, Directors & Asst. She previously worked as a School Board secretary. margin: 0; white-space: normal; margin-bottom: 0; */ The 2022 elections are about whether we move forward or fight for our basic freedoms. Membership in Wisconsin unions has plummeted in the years since Act 10 became law. of Alcohol & Substance Abuse, Occupational & Physical Therapists and Audiologists, Smart 90 Walgreens/Duane Reade retail network, Talking with Children About Cancer: Support for school professionals, Notice to all Medicare-eligible SHIP members, SHIP premium notices for those not on automatic deduction, Staten Island Borough Office Representatives, Polishing Your Resume: Presenting Your Best Self, Suggestions for the Guidance Counselors Year-End Calendar. .twocolumnlist ul { #block-breadcrumbs a::after, ************ Information about proctoring guidelines, student support services, Teacher's Choice and the 19th annual UFT School Counselors Conference. .clarchives ul { .fsBody .fsLabel, .fsBody label { text-align: center; Communication Director 11/4/22 Communication Director 11/4/22. In the leadup to the midterm elections, pundits predicted a red wave, even a tsunami, based on polls, historical precedent, and steep gas and grocery prices. Wirtz-Olsen is a high school art and English teacher and a member of the Marshfield Teachers Association. */ September 1, 2011. { { The union has hosted trainings on redistricting for its members and expresses support on its website for Governor Evers Peoples Maps Commission as well as the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition, a left-leaning coalition of groups such as the Center for Media and Democracy, ACLU Wisconsin, Citizen Action Wisconsin, Common Cause Wisconsin, The Wisconsin AFL-CIO, the Fair Elections Project, and the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. View the November Get out the Vote Labor 2022 schedule of volunteer opportunities here. } display: block; /* Departure rates have remained high: 8.8 percent of teachers left after the 201516 school year. WEAC Contact. .footer, display: block; Not only is he continuing to accept thousands of dollars in endorsements from the state teachers union, but he is "proud" to tout their endorsement: It's a strategy that's questionable at best, considering how Terry McAuliffe fared after trotting out teachers union president Randi Weingarten towards the end of his losing campaign in Virginia. Accessed October 7, 2021. } Scott Walkers plan to strip away their collective bargaining rights. page-break-inside: avoid; Before Act 10, Wisconsin school districts contributed 100 percent to the Wisconsin Retirement System. Accessed October 7, 2021. The reality is that there has never been a state senate campaign in Wisconsin history that has built a grassroots coalition of this magnitude. /*Leadership pages: the title on related content blocks was too tight. .clarchives ul { border: none; } } In a year when kitchen table issues, democracy and our freedoms were on the ballot, many people told me that the elections came down to a choice between, on the one side, election deniers and extremists stoking fear, and on the other, problem-solvers working to help the country move forward. font-size: medium; /* Chrome, Safari, Edge - Forces the printer to print background image */ COPE Endorsed Candidates Get Another Big Endorsement Read More. .hero__page-heading .page-title__heading { .clarchives ul { } font-size: 4rem; On mobile, images still have float and margins attached on the sides when they should not. { List will be updated as more information is available. } ******* .pager__items { Steve Sisolak (D) lost the endorsement of a top teachers union less than 30 days from his midterm battle against Republican gubernatorial candidate Joe Lombardo. flex-direction: column; ************ The Kenosha Education Association on Wednesday announced it is backing . The union was formed in the 1970s and is an affiliate of the National Education Association, the nations largest teachers union. text-decoration: none !important; @media (max-width: 768px) { border: 2px solid #ddd; display: block; { /* .event__actions__item svg { margin-top:-1.6rem; Your membership includes access to experts in employment and education law to assure your rights in the workplace. In 2011, after a fierce public battle, Gov. } /* Print Header */ } Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) is a left-of-center teachers union representing teachers and other public-school employees in Wisconsin. .header, District hopping has had other consequences. The report found the percentage of Wisconsin teachers who retired or left the profession jumped to 10.5 percent after the 2010-11 school year, up from 6.4 percent in the year before Act 10. { Check here first. .main-content a[href^="https:"], Accessed October 7, 2021. .clarchives li a:before { */ The union opposed the legislatures back to school COVID Plan (AB-1), which was vetoed by Governor Evers and included a requirement that a two-thirds majority of a local school board would be needed to move from in-person instruction to closed schools. 2023 Wisconsin Education Association Council. { Menu. } display: inline-block; .content-heading__heading { color: #373737; } Expenses: $7,390,875 .main-content a[href^="/"]::after { content: " (https://www.uft.org" attr(href) ") "; } So, in the first two years after Act 10 was enacted, teachers lost $10,000 in take-home pay, she said. white-space: normal; background-repeat: no-repeat; .twocolumnlist ul { [9] [10] [11], During the 2021 state legislative session in Wisconsin, the union reliably supported pro-union and other left-leaning pieces of legislation and opposed many bills passed by the Republican-led state legislature. text-align: center; Privacy Policy, Apply Now for an AFT-Wisconsin Scholarship. display: none; margin-right: 0; An effort by Eva Moskowitz and her Success Academy corporate charter school chain to elbow their way into two school buildings in southeastern Queens has met with unprecedented community opposition. State Budget Action Center. Wisconsin Education Association Council. } Kim Schroeder is the vice president of the union. Now is the time to get involved. By the 201516 school year, total teacher compensation was $10,843 lower 12.6 percent less than before the passage of Act 10. What benefits do teachers get in Wisconsin? color: #fff; } color: #373737; ESP-MTI represents approximately 875 Educational Assistants, Special Education Assistants, Nurse Assistants, Special Education Assistant Substitutes, Clerical Employees, Computer & AV Technicians and Programmers, Family Liaisons and Security Assistants employed by the Madison Metropolitan School District. opacity: .4; My daughter is going to the state of Washington, said Richards. Find all our resources to be an education advocate. padding: .5rem .5rem; All Rights Reserved. Thousands of angry public employees descended on the Wisconsin state Capitol in 2011 to protest Gov. Madison Teachers Inc. All Rights Reserved. The application period for 2022-2023 scholarships is now open. Educators Needed for Fair Maps Project. Wisconsin Education Association Council. } The Wisconsin AFL-CIO has endorsed, For information on absentee and in-person early voting download the Wisconsin AFL-CIO Early Voter Guide at, To join in our voter outreach efforts, visit, Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education, Chippewa Valley Technical College Referendum. @media (min-width:960px) { [1] [2], The Wisconsin Education Association Council traces its roots to the mid-1800s as a training and educational organization for Wisconsin teachers. height: auto; display: block; Accessed October 7, 2021. margin-bottom: 3rem; WEA Member Benefits is the ONLY financial organization created by Wisconsin educators for Wisconsin educators. AFL-CIO. } In affiliate meetings, telephone town halls, media coverage and social media, the union is spreading the news, and at a student debt clinic at AFT headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 31, AFT President Randi Weingarten vowed to reach as many people as possible with information that could save them tensand sometimes hundredsof thousands of dollars. Local labor councils have made endorsements around the state. display: block; /* Chapter Leader Update: Hub Highlight. All rights reserved. About 60 schools this year joined the UFTs pilot partnership with MindUp, an evidence-based social-emotional learning program conceived by the Goldie Hawn Foundation to support educators' and students' mental health. That amounted to $5,000 per teacher, she said. word-break: break-all; ************ Together Were Heard. Madison Teachers Inc. (MTI) is a member driven Union consisting of Teachers, Educational Professionals and Para Professionals, Educational Assistants, Substitute Teachers, Supportive Educational Employees (Clerical and Technical) and School Security Assistants who are employed by the Madison Metropolitan School District. .fsPreviousButton, .fsSubmitButton, .fsNextButton { line-height: 100px; Makes links in Photo Gallery captions white so they can be seen. */ #main-content, display: block; [20], The WEAC and its political action committee have both long supported Governor Tony Evers (D), the former State Superintendent for Public Instruction, donating $50,000 to his 2022 reelection campaign in 2020 and $25,000 in 2021. The Wisconsin AFL-CIO has endorsedJudge Jill Karofsky for Wisconsin Supreme Court. page-break-before: auto; color: #000; @media (max-width: 500px) { October 14, 2022 WEAC Member Awarded Prestigious National Scholastic Press Award October 14, 2022 Evers calls for using surplus funds for $2 billion increase in public school funding, reducing taxes September 7, 2022 Share Our Social August 31, 2022 Governor Evers announces $90 million into K-12 education August 30, 2022 } [13], The union also opposed measures limiting transgender athletic participation, opposed prohibiting employers from providing diversity, equity, and inclusion training, and opposed restricting school boards from closing school buildings. padding: 0; But by 2020, just 8.7 percent of Wisconsin workers were members of unions, compared to 10.8 percent nationally. As a result of the exodus, Wisconsin teachers have less experience on average. House of Representatives, Rep. Ron Kind,U.S. .paragraph-sidebar { background-color: #ffffff !important; Through WEAC, educators advocate for our students, profession and communities. line-height: inherit; display:none !important; On the ballot will be the Governor's race, a U.S. Senate seat, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Wisconsin Senate and Assembly races. */ For those who remain in public schools, the Wisconsin Education Association is a shadow of its former self. . By Brandi Makuski The Stevens Point police chief is hailing both the victims and emergency. } Mobile home park residents deal with 20+ days of sewage backup, Woman caught with drugs in underwear during mid-day arrest, Suspect threatened to rain hell on local police, Letter: Leftist School Board should be recalled, Anderson stepping down as SPASH basketball coach, Park Ridge schedules recall vote for two trustees, Column: Dont take everyday heroes for granted, Chief: Emergency responders, victims were all heroes in aftermath of stabbing, Kitzman, 12-year veteran of PCSO, promoted to sergeant, Woman transported following car v building collision, Chief: I-39 conditions are Horriblelike an ice-skating rink, Happy Little 5K inspired by Bob Ross, benefit for state parks, Gallery Q announces new exhibit, Whimsy and Wonder, UWSP to offer music concerts at Stevens Point, Wausau campuses, School groups can now apply for DNRs free tree seedling program, DFI appoints new director of credit unions, Evers to share stage with granddaughter at 2023 inauguration ceremony, Lt. Gov. .accordion-term span { .main-content::after 6333 W. Bluemound Road clear: both; On April 7, 2020, hundreds of local and municipal seats, many important referendums, and a statewide seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court are up for election. This is a logo for Wisconsin Education Association Council. display: block; The district put in place a high-deductible health care plan after Act 10 without negotiations, Kohlhaas said. Lake Mills Area School District Referendum, Middleton-Cross Plains School District Referendum, Mount Horeb Area School District Referendum, Stoughton Area School District Referendum, Sun Prairie Area School District Referendum, Waunakee Community School District Referendum, Whitewater Belleville School District Referendum, Adams-Friendship Area School District Referendum, Wisconsin Dells School District Referendum, Questions 1 and 2 pertaining to funds for infrastructure and improvement. Colorado (CO) Ed Perlmutter. While many of the policies supported by the organization are related to public schools, such as opposing school voucher programs and advocating for more government spending on public schools, the union also endorses stances on left-leaning policies that are not directly related to schools, such as redistricting. padding-bottom: 1em; display: none; float: none; Early Voting Rally a Success! } background-image: none; Copyright 2023 InfluenceWatch. Print Stylesheet */ order: 99 !important; a.content-heading__term::after, height: 70px; Join union leaders from across Wisconsin to check in with WEAC President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen for important updates and support. Accessed October 7, 2021. */ } Madison teachers voted to endorse Nada as the best candidate to fight for public education. See WEAC recommended candidates and other important election information compiled exclusively for our members. Location Fox Valley or Milwaukee, Southwest Wisconsin. - CG, 2022-1202 */ padding: 3rem 0 3rem; Home Archive WisGOP: Teachers union Tony Evers touts WEAC endorsement. About. Wisconsin Education Association Council. Accessed October 7, 2021. margin: auto; The percentage of teachers with fewer than five years of experience grew from 19.6 percent in the 201011 school year to 24.1 percent in the 201516 school year, according to the report. .main-content a::after, ************ color-adjust: exact !important; } The race is officially nonpartisan, but conservatives have largely lined up behind Kerr while Underly has the backing of Democrats. Together Were Stronger. Connecticut (CT) John Larson. Students no longer have the same teachers every year, Kohlhaas said. .embedded-entity.align-right { Accessed October 7, 2021. @media (max-width:1027px) { After Act 10, the district unilaterally obligated teachers to pay half which came out of their salaries, said Kim Kohlhaas, the president of AFT-Wisconsin. columns: 1; color: #373737 !important; See All Events. font-size: 1.5rem; Milwaukee, WI 53213. Rural districts, with less resources, cant compete. .content-image--right, font-weight: normal; With the country's national and large local teachers unions sitting on the sidelines, wary of making a divisive official endorsement, it makes sense that some of their leaders are issuing their. height: auto; Formstack styles for embedded forms display: block; { .trigger, a::after, a[href$=".pdf"]::after, ******** In Wisconsin, teachers are a part of the Wisconsin Retirement System, which includes all public employees. /*-->