% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE OPEN
% THEIR DOORS FOR THE NEW SCHOOL
% YEAR.
% AND NEW SCHOOL OF CHALLENGES.
% ELECTION OFFICIALS WANT TO
% BOLSTER RESOURCES AND ONE OF THE
% TOP HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THE STATE
% PREPARE ITSELF FOR AN IMPENDING
% NURSES STRIKE.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG TONIGHT
% ON HERE AND NOW AN ENGLISH
% TEACHER'S TAKE ON A BOOK NOT
% BEING ALLOWED IN CLASSROOMS.
% ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR MEGAN
% WOLFE.
% A UW HOUSE NURSE ON WHY THERE
% ARE IMMINENT PLANS TO STRIKE.
% AND JUST IN TIME FOR LABOR DAY,
% THE LATEST STATE JOBS REPORT.
% IT'S HERE AND NOW FOR
% SEPTEMBER 2ND.
% >> FUNDING FOR HERE AND NOW IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: GOVERNOR
% TONY EVERS' THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED
% HE IS GIVING $90 MILLION MORE
% DOLLARS OF COVID RELIEF AID TO
% WISCONSIN K-12 SCHOOLS.
% THIS ADDITIONAL BOOST COMES AS
% STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE
% BACK IN SCHOOLS.
% MANY OF WHICH ARE STRUGGLING TO
% PUT A LICENSED TEACHER AT THE
% FRONT OF THE CLASSROOM.
% HERE AND NOW SENIOR POLITICAL
% REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ CAUGHT UP
% WITH THE LEADING CANDIDATES FOR
% GOVERNOR AND ASKED THEM WHAT
% THEY THINK CAUSED THE STAFFING
% SHORTAGE AND WHAT THE STATE CAN
% DO TO HELP.
% [ APPLAUSE ]
% >> AND IT ALL STARTS WITH
% EDUCATION.
% >> Zac Schultz: REPUBLICAN TIMMM
% MICHELS HAS A FEW LINES IN HIS
% SPEECH THAT REFERS TO WISCONSIN.
% BUT THE NEW LINE TALKS ABOUT
% PARENTS TO SHUT DOWN QUOTE, WOKE
% TEACHERS THAT TALK ABOUT
% CRITICAL RACE THEORY.
% >> WE ARE GOING TO PUT PARENTS
% BACK IN CHARGE OF EDUCATION AND
% STOP THE CRT AND GET BACK TO THE
% ABC'S.
% >> Zac Schultz: WHEN ASKED
% DIRECTLY ABOUT THE STAFFING
% SHORTAGE, MICHA MICHELS SAYS ITS
% TEACHERS.
% >> THE TEACHERS ARE FRUSTRATED.
% I HEAR THAT FROM TEACHERS.
% THAT NOT MY OPINION.
% EVERYWHERE WE GO TEACHERS ARE
% SAYING, "I LOVE MY STUDENTS, I
% LOVE WORKING HARD, I LOVE
% TEACHING, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT HAS
% BECOME SO POLITICAL AND SOL
% BUREAUCRATIC."
% >> Zac Schultz: TONY EVERS
% AGREES POLITICS ARE DRIVING
% TEACHERS OUT BUT IN A DIFFERENT
% WAY.
% >> I THINK PEOPLE HAVE
% DISRESPECTED TEACHERS OVER THE
% LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
% AND THEY DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH.
% SO THOSE ARE KIND OF TWO BASIC
% THINGS.
% THOSE THIN THINGS ARE NOT GOINGE
% CHANGED OVER NIGHT.
% AND SO I DO BELIEVE THAT AT THE
% END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO
% CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS
% AND OUR SCHOOLS AND PROVIDE THE
% RESOURCES THEY NEED.
% >> Zac Schultz: AS FOR WHAT TO
% DO ABOUT IT, MICHELS SAYS THE
% SOLUTION ISN'T IN THE STATE
% BUDGET.
% MEANING MORE FUNDING FOR
% SCHOOLS.%>> IT STARTS WITH LE
ADERSHIP AT
% THE VERY TOP.
% AND IT STARTS WITH THE GUIDANCE
% WE ARE GIVING THOSE SCHOOL
% ADMINISTRATORS AND DPI AND ALL
% THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE
% OUT THERE.
% >> Zac Schultz: BUT EVERS SAY
% THE SOLUTIONS IS QUITE SIMPLE.
% >> I THINK INCREASING THE
% TEACHER'S WAGES.
% AND START TO RESPECT WHAT THEY
% DO.
% >> Zac Schultz: REPORTING FROM
% WAUWATOSA I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR
% HERE AND NOW.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: TIM
% MICHELS SAYS HE WANTS K-12
% SCHOOLS TO STOP TEACHING
% CRITICAL RACE THEORY, WHICH THEY
% ACTUALLY DON'T.
% JUST BY WAY OF DEFINITION
% ACCORDING TO EXPERTS, CRITICAL
% RACE THEORY IS A HIGH-LEVEL
% ACADEMIC COUNCIL HOLDING RACISM
% AS NOT MERELY THE PRODUCT OF
% INDIVIDUAL BIAS OR PREJUDICE.
% IN WISCONSIN, RECENT LOCAL
% EXAMPLES OF THE CULTURE WAR
% WITHIN SCHOOLS INCLUDE THE MIST
% EGO SCHOOL BOARD EXCLOUTING AN
% AWARD WINNING BOOK FOR TENTH
% GRADE READING.
% IT'S A NOVEL THAT FOLLOWS A
% JAPANESE AMERICAN FAMILY
% INCARCERATED DURING THE AMERICAN
% GOVERNMENT DURING WORLD WAR II.
% FOR MORE ON THIS WE TURN TO
% KABBY HONG RECENTLY NAMED
% TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
% AND MEMBER OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN
% COALITION OF WISCONSIN.
% THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
% >> Kabby Hong: IT'S A PLEASURE
% BEING WITH YOU.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: AS A NEW
% SCHOOL YEAR STARTS, TENTH
% GRADERS THERE WILL NOT BE
% ASSIGNED WHEN THE EMPEROR WAS
% DIVINE.
% YOU SAY YOUR ORGANIZATION MUST
% NOT STAY SILENT ON THIS.
% WHY NOT?
% >> Kabby Hong: I THINK IT'S
% IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS,
% NOT JUST OUR ASIAN AMERICAN KIDS
% OR KIDS OF COLOR, THAT THEY SEE
% THEMSELVES IN THE CURRICULUM AND
% THEY SEE A TRUTHFUL
% REPRESENTATION OF OUR NATION'S
% HISTORY.
% ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY IS
% AMERICAN HISTORY.
% AND SO TO EXCLUDE THAT IS REALLY
% DENYING OUR OWN PAST.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: SO THE
% SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS SAID THE
% DECISION WAS ABOUT THE PROCESS
% OF HOW THE BOOK WAS CHOSEN, NOT
% ITS CONTENT.
% THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO OUR
% REQUEST FOR COMMENT.
% WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF
% WHY THAT BOOK WAS PULLED?
% >> Kabby Hong: WELL, THEIR
% EXPLANATIONS REALLY DEFIE LOGIC.
% WHAT YOU ARE FINDING ACROSS THE
% COUNTRY AND IT'S NOT JUST
% HAPPENING IN MISKEGO, THERE IS A
% DOUBLE STANDARD WHEN IT COMES TO
% AUTHORS OF COLOR.
% ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO
% LGBTQ CHARACTERS AND BOOKS AS
% WELL.
% THAT THERE IS A SEPARATE
% STANDARD OF SCRUTINY THAT IS
% USED FOR THOSE TYPES OF BOOKS
% THAN IT IS FOR THE, QUOTE,
% CLASSIC BOOKS THAT ARE NOT OFTEN
% WRITTEN BY PEOPLE OF COLOR OR
% MARGINALIZED GROUPS.
% WHAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO
% EXPLAIN IS WHY THEY ARE USING A
% DOUBLE-STANDARD FOR WHEN THE
% EMPEROR WAS DIVINE THEY HAVEN'T
% USED FOR OTHER NOVELS.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: DO OTHER
% TEACHERS ASSIGN THIS BOOK?
% >> Kabby Hong: WE ARE
% CONSIDERING THINKING OF TEACHING
% IT THIS YEAR FOR OUR FRESHMEN
% ENGLISH.
% BECAUSE IT IS A FANTASTIC BOOK.
% IT'S AN AWARD-WINNING BOOK.
% AND IT HAS TREMENDOUS LITERARY
% MERIT.
% AND IT IS TAUGHT THROUGHOUT OUR
% COUNTRY.
% MISKEGO'S LOGIC OF WHY THEY
% WANTED IT REJECTED, BECAUSE THEY
% WERE UNCOMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT
% THE JAPANESE-AMERICAN
% INTERNMENT.
% AND UNCOMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT
% OUR NATION'S HISTORY.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: HOW DOES
% THIS LOCAL EXAMPLE DOVE TAIL
% WITH CALLS TO CRITICAL RACE
% THEORY?
% >> Kabby Hong: WELL, IF YOU LOOK
% AT WHAT PEOPLE DEFINE AS
% CRITICAL RACE THEORY, SOMETIMES
% IT'S A LIST OF 70 DIFFERENT
% TERMS.
% INCLUDING TERMS LIKE DIVERSITY.
% SO REALLY THESE CRITICAL RACE
% THEORY BANS HAVE NOTHING TO DO
% WITH CRITICAL RACE THEORY.
% AS YOU MENTIONED BEFORE IN K-12
% EDUCATION, CRITICAL RACE THEORY
% IS NOT REALLY THOUGHT.
% WHAT THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY
% BANS SHOW IS IN DISCOMFORT
% PEOPLE HAVE WITH PEOPLE OF
% COLOR.%WITH THE TRUTHFUL REFL
ECTION
% ABOUT OUR NATION'S HISTORY WITH
% BANNING BOOKS.
% ESPECIALLY BOOKS WRITTEN BY
% AUTHORS OF COLOR.
% AND I THINK THAT IS THE OPPOSITE
% DIRECTION WE NEED TO GO AS A
% COUNTRY.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: SO ARE
% TEACHERS ON THE EDGE ABOUT
% CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION ABOUT
% HISTORICAL FACTS?
% >> Kabby Hong: WELL, THE NICE
% THING ABOUT BEING THE WISCONSIN
% TEACHER OF THE YEAR, I'M ABLE TO
% CONVERSE WITH TEACHERS OF THE
% YEAR FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
% AND THIS IS ABSOLUTELY AN ISSUE
% THAT IS IMPACTING TEACHERS, NOT
% JUST IN WISCONSIN, BUT ACROSS
% THE COUNTRY ITSELF.
% THERE HAS BEEN MORE THAN 300
% ANTI-LGBTQ LAWS PASSED IN THIS
% COUNTRY IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE.
% AND SO IT'S INCREDIBLY
% PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THE BEST
% PART OF OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION
% SYSTEM IS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
% HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
% OUR NATION'S HISTORY, ABOUT
% IDENTITIES OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
% AND THESE LAWS TAKE AWAY FROM
% THAT.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: HAS ALL
% OF THIS CONTRIBUTED TO TEACHERS
% NOT WANTING TO ENTER THE FIELD?
% OR NOT STAYING?
% >> Kabby Hong: IT IS A MAJOR
% REASON WHY A LOT OF TEACHERS ARE
% LEAVING.
% BECAUSE WHAT YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY
% ASKING TEACHERS TO DO IS TO GO
% AGAINST BEST PRACTICES.
% TO GO AGAINST THEIR OWN
% TRAINING.
% AND THE SAD REALITY OF IT IS
% THAT, UNFORTUNATELY IN TEACHING,
% WE ARE OFTENTIMES HAVING OUR
% PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT OVERRULED
% BY PEOPLE THAT HAVE ZERO
% EXPERIENCE ACTUALLY TEACHING IN
% A CLASSROOM.
% AND THAT IS THE SAD PART ABOUT
% ALL OF THIS.
% IS THAT YOU TRAIN AND YOU ASK
% THESE TEACHERS TO BE COLLEGE
% EDUCATED AND HIGHLY TRAINED.
% AND YET WHEN THEY GIVE YOU YOUR
% PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT, THIS
% JUDGMENT IS OFTENTIMES OVERRULED
% FOR NO REASON, OTHER THAN A
% NARROW POLITICAL VIEWPOINT.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: WHAT
% SHOULD PARENTS KNOW ABOUT WHY
% SUCH THINGS AS AMERICAN HISTORY
% IN THESE WAYS IS BEING TAUGHT TO
% THEIR CHILDREN?
% >> Kabby Hong: I THINK PARENTS
% SHOULD KNOW TEACHERS DEEPLY CARE
% ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN.
% AND THAT WE ARE ROOTING OUR
% PRACTICES ON BEST PRACTICES.
% BUT ALSO, IN TERMS OF MEETING
% THE NEEDS OF A DIVERSE ARRAY OF
% KIDS.
% AND ULTIMATELY THESE
% CONVERSATIONS STRENGTHEN US.
% BECAUSE THE HISTORY IS OUR
% CURRENT.
% IF YOU LOOK A LOT OF THE ISSUES
% WE ARE DEALING WITH IN THE PAST,
% WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH THEM
% TODAY.
% IT ALLOWS US TO GIVE A CONTEXT
% FOR OUR KIDS IN TERMS OF WHY
% ISSUES OF RACIAL INJUSTICE, FOR
% EXAMPLE, CONTINUE TO PLAGUE US
% IN OUR CURRENT DAY.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: WE NEED
% TO LIVE IT THERE.
% KABBY HONG THANK YOU SO MUCH.
% HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR.
% >> Kabby Hong: THANK YOU.
% APPRECIATE IT.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: IN
% ELECTION NEWS A FEDERAL JUDGE IN
% MADISON THIS WEEK RULED
% WISCONSIN VOTERS WITH
% DISABILITIES CAN GET HELP
% RETURNING THEIR BALLOTS CITING
% THE FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
% THIS DECISION AFTER THE STATE
% SUPREME COURT RULED ONLY THE
% VOTER COULD RETURN AN ABSENTEE
% BALLOT TO THE CLERKS OFFICE.
% APPROVED A PROPOSAL TO SEEK
% $1.3 MILLION TO HIRE TEN PEOPLE
% AND CREATE AN ELECTIONS
% INSPECTOR GENERAL PROGRAM.
% HOW WILL ANY OF THIS SQUARE WITH
% REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE STATE
% LEGISLATURE WHO HAD THE
% COMMISSION IN THEIR SIGHTS FOR
% ITS GUIDANCE DURING THE 2020
% ELECTION?
% FOR MORE ON THIS ADMINISTRATOR
% OF THE WISCONSIN ELECTION
% COMMISSION MEAGAN WOLFE.
% THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
% >> Meagan Wolfe: THANK YOU FOR
% HAVING ME.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: WHAT IS
% YOUR RESPONSE?
% >> Meagan Wolfe: THE COMMISSION
% WILL FORMALLY RESPOND AT A
% SPECIAL MEETING TO BE CONDUCTED
% ON SEPTEMBER 6th AT 6:00 P.M.
% PART OF THE JUDGES RULING WAS TO
% DIRECT THE COMMISSION TO PROVIDE
% ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND
% GUIDANCE TO VOTERS WITH
% DISABILITIES ABOUT THE EXACT
% MECHANICS OF HOW THEY CAN CHOOSE
% TO HELP THEM MAIL OR DELIVER
% THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOT.
% SO THE COMMISSION WILL BE
% MEETING IN PUBLIC IN OPEN
% SESSION ON SEPTEMBER 6th TO
% HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: THE COURT
% ALSO DIRECTED CLERKS TO BE
% NOTIFIED BY NEXT FRIDAY OF THE
% GUIDANCE.
% DOES A VOTER HAVE TO SOMEHOW
% PROVE THEIR DISABILITY TO GET
% THIS HELP?
% >> Meagan Wolfe: THAT WILL BE
% PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT IS
% AT THE COMMISSION'S MEETING.
% BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT MOST
% LIKELY BE APPROPRIATE OR
% SOMETHING THAT IS PART OF THAT
% PROCESS.
% VOTERS DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
% TO CHOOSE SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO
% SAY CYST THEM UNDER BOTH STATE
% AND FEDERAL LAW.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: AS TO THE
% UNANIMOUS APPROVAL FOR MORE THAN
% $1 MILLION AND INSPECTOR GENERAL
% FOR THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION,
% WHY IS THAT NEEDED?
% >> Meagan Wolfe: SO I THINK IT'S
% A RESULT OF NEEDS.
% IT'S A REALLY NEEDS-DRIVEN
% PROPOSAL.
% AND IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE
% REALLY SEEN THAT THE ELECTION
% LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED
% DRAMATICALLY.
% THE REQUEST AND THE DEMANDS UPON
% OUR AGENCY HAS SHIFTED.
% WE HAVE SEEN SUCH A TREMENDOUS
% INCREASE IN PEOPLE ASKING FOR
% ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
% AND THE COMMISSION EVEN, THEIR
% DESIRE TO INCREASE THINGS LIKE
% THE AUDITS THAT OUR AGENCY
% CONDUCTS.
% AND SO THIS PROPOSAL, AND NOW
% THE COMMISSION'S UNANIMOUS
% APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL,
% REALLY PLACES BEFORE LAWMAKERS
% AND THE GOVERNOR IN THE 2023
% BUDGET-MAKING PROCESS A COUPLE
% QUESTIONS.
% THE FIRST IS, DO THEY WANT TO
% SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF
% VOTING EQUIPMENT AUDITS THAT ARE
% CONDUCTED?
% DO THEY WANT TO SEE AN EXPANSION
% IN PROGRAMS LIKE OUR
% ACCESSIBILITY AUDITS?
% AND DO THEY WANT THE COMMISSION
% TO ENGAGE IN ADDITIONAL CHECKS,
% REVIEWS, INDEPENDENT AUDITS OF
% VOTER DATA AND VOTER ROLES?
% AND IF THE ANSWER IS YES TO
% THOSE QUESTIONS, THEN WE NEED TO
% ASK FOR FUNDING FOR THOSE
% PROGRAMS THROUGH THE STATE
% BUDGET PROCESS.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: AND IS
% THERE SOMETHING SPECIFIC THE
% INSPECTOR GENERAL WOULD DO?
% >> Meagan Wolfe: SO THE
% INSPECTOR GENERAL WOULD BE THE
% HEAD OF THAT DEPARTMENT.
% UNDER THAT DEPARTMENT THEY WOULD
% HAVE VARIOUS STAFF THAT WOULD BE
% LOOKING INTO -- THEY MIGHT BE
% DATA EXPERTS.
% THEY MIGHT BE EXPERTS ON
% ACCESSIBILITY AUDITS.
% THEY MIGHT BE EXPERTS ON VOTING
% EQUIPMENT AND CERTIFICATION IN%
OTHER ASPECTS OF THAT PROGRAM
% ANTEINSPECTOR GENERAL WOULD BE
% THE ONE THAT IS SUPERVISING THAT
% WORK AS IS DIRECTED BY THE
% COMMISSION AND THROUGH THE
% STRUCTURE OF THE AGENCY.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: HERE'S
% WHAT REPRESENTATIVE JANELLE
% BRANSON SAID ABOUT THIS.
% QUOTE, THIS IS PLAY OUTSIDE
% OF -- OFFERING A FIX WHILE
% PRETENDING IT WILL SOLVE THE
% PROBLEMS OF THIS ROGUE AGENCY.
% SO GIVEN THAT KIND OF
% PERSUASION, WHAT HAPPENS, IN
% YOUR MIND, IF THIS MONEY ISN'T
% APPROVED?
% >> Meagan Wolfe: IF THIS MONEY
% ISN'T APPROVED, WE WON'T BE ABLE
% TO EXPAND INTO THOSE ADDITIONAL
% AREAS.
% AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REAL
% SHAME FOR WISCONSIN VOTERS AND
% EVEN FOR LAWMAKERS.
% BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO
% PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION,
% ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO
% ENGAGE WITH ELECTION
% INFORMATION.
% ADDITIONAL TRANSPARENCY.
% BUT IN ORDER FOR US TO TAKE ON
% THESE NEW ADDITIONAL TASKS, WE
% NEED TO SEE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
% SUSTAINABLE FUNDING THROUGH THE
% STATE BUDGET PROCESS.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: SPEAKING
% OF CRITIC BRANSON, SHE IS
% HOLDING A HEARING ON WHY THE
% COMMISSION IS REINSTATING 31,000
% PREVIOUSLY INACTIVE VOTERS TO
% THE VOTERS REGISTRATION LIST.
% WHY ARE THEY PUTTING BACK ON THE
% ROLES?
% >> Meagan Wolfe: THAT IS GREAT
% QUESTION.
% AND IT IS A RESULT OF THE STATE
% SUPREME COURT DECISION THE
% ZANEGO DECISION.
% AFTER THAT DECISION WAS HANDED
% DOWN, THE COMMISSION HAD BEFORE
% IT TWO QUESTIONS.
% ONE, WHAT WAS TO DO WITH FOLKS
% THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BY ERIKA'S
% POTENTIALLY MOVING AND SENT
% MAILER.
% WHAT TO DO WITH THEM MOVING
% FORWARD.
% AND THE COURT SAID THAT IS A
% MUNICIPAL CLERK RESPONSIBILITY.
% SO THE COMMISSION GAVE GUIDANCE
% TO THE MUNICIPAL CLERKS TO TAKE
% ACTION ON THOSE RECORDS.
% THE SECOND QUESTION THAT WAS
% BEFORE THE COMMISSION IS WHAT TO
% DO WITH THE VOTERS THAT HAD
% ALREADY BEEN DEACTIVATED AND
% WHERE THE COURT SAID IT WAS A
% MUNICIPAL CLERK RESPONSIBILITY,
% NOT A RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
% ELECTIONS COMMISSION.%AND IN
THAT CASE, THERE WAS A
% FOLLOW UP LAWSUIT AND AS OF THAT
% LAWSUIT, THERE WAS A STIPULATION
% THAT THOSE VOTERS WOULD BE
% REACTIVATED.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: COMPLICAT
% COMPLICATED -- COMPLICATED STUF.
% MEAGAN WOLFE THANK YOU.
% >> Meagan Wolfe: THANK YOU.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: THE STATE
% JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CRIMINALLY
% CHARGED -- WITH HIS REQUESTING
% ABSENTEE BALLOTS IF FOR TWO
% OTHER PEOPLE.
% CHARGING PAPERS SAY HE COULD
% FACE MORE THAN 12 YEARS IN
% PRISON.
% ON THE HEALTH CARE FRONT, NURSES
% AT UW HEALTH IN MADISON TODAY
% DELIVERED THEIR OFFICIAL TEN-DAY
% NOTICE OF INTENT TO STRIKE.
% THE NOTICE COMES IN RESPONSE TO
% THE HOSPITAL'S REFUSAL TO
% RECOGNIZE THE NURSE'S UNION.
% HUNDREDS OF NURSES VOLTED IN
% FAVOR OF A THREE- VOTED IN FAVOR
% OF A THREE-DAY WALK OUT.
% UW HEALTH SAID THE DECISION BY
% SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL
% UNION TO CONDUCT A STRIKE IS
% DISAPPOINTING.
% THEY WILL HARM PATIENTS KNOWING
% THAT THEIR ACTIONS WILL NOT GAIN
% THEM AN ANSWER TO THESE LEGAL
% QUESTIONS.%WE ARE GO NOW TO O
NE OF THE
% LEADERS IN THE EFFORT TO
% UNIONIZE.
% COLIN GILLIS.
% THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
% >> Colin Gillis: THANK YOU FOR
% HAVING ME.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: THE
% STRIKE WOULD BE STAGED TO GET
% THE HOSPITAL TO RECOGNIZE THIS
% UNION.
% WHY DO NURSES WANT THE UNION?
% >> Colin Gillis: WE HAVE BEEN
% FACING CUTS THAT HAVE REDUCED
% OUR ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF
% PATIENTS FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.
% SINCE WE LOST OUR UNION FOUR
% YEARS AGO.
% SO WE'RE REALLY -- WE'RE
% COMMANDING THIS UNION BECAUSE WE
% NEED A REAL VOICE AT THE TABLE
% WHERE THE DECISION ABOUT POLICY
% GETS MADE.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: DESCRIBE
% YOUR WORKING CONDITIONS THAT LED
% TO THIS DECISION FOR NURSES.
% >> Colin Gillis: I WORK ON AN
% IN-PATIENT UNIT WHERE WE TAKE
% CARE OF COVID PATIENTS, AMONG
% OTHERS.
% AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY WORKING
% SHORT STAFFED.
% AND WORKING SHORT STAFFED AS A
% NURSE MEANS YOU ARE MAKING AN
% ENDLESS SERIES OF IMPOSSIBLE
% DECISIONS.
% DO I GIVE THIS PATIENT PAIN
% MEDICATIONS OR DO I STAY AT THE
% BEDSIDE AND MONITOR THIS PATIENT
% WHO MAY BE DECOMPENSATING AND IN
% DANGER OF GETTING EVEN SICKER
% THAN THEY ALREADY ARE?
% AND IT'S THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE
% THAT CAUSES BURNOUT AND
% EXHAUSTION AND MORAL INJURY THAT
% IS CAUSING NURSES TO LEAVE NOT
% JUST BEDSIDE NURSING, IN-PATIENT
% NURSING, BUT TO LEAVE THE
% PROFESSION.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: SO YOU
% DESCRIBED A SERIES OF CUTS OVER
% THE YEARS.
% ARE THESE, KIND OF, DELIBERATE
% CUTS?
% OR DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH THE
% SHORTAGE OF NURSES OVERALL?
% >> Colin Gillis: SO WE'VE BEEN
% FACING A CHRONIC STAFFING CRISIS
% SINCE THE HOSPITAL IMPLEMENTED
% SYSTEM NOTICE MEAN STAFFING BACK
% IN 2018.
% SO THERE IS A NATIONAL STAFFING
% SHORTAGE.
% BUT THE STAFFING CRISIS THAT
% WE'RE EXPERIENCING AT UW IS, IN
% PART, AN OWN GOAL.
% IT'S SELF-INFLICTED.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: YOUR
% FELLOW NURSES SAID HAVING A
% UNION WOULD HELP PATIENT CARE.
% HOW SPECIFICALLY?
% >> Colin Gillis: NURSES ARE ON
% THE FRONTLINE.
% THE VERY FRONTLINE OF HEALTH
% CARE.
% SO WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING TO
% OUR PATIENTS AS IT'S HAPPENING.
% AND WE'RE ALSO, BECAUSE WE'RE AT
% THE FRONTLINE AND THE BEDSIDE,
% WE'RE THE EXPERTS.
% WE REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
% WHEN WE'RE FACING A PANDEMIC OR
% WHEN WE ARE FACING INCREASING
% LEVEL OF PATIENTS IN NEED OF
% HEALTH CARE IN THE COUNTY.
% AND IT'S US WHO ARE MOST
% QUALIFIED TO MAKE DECISIONS
% ABOUT WHAT POLICIES WILL REALLY
% WORK AND PROTECT PATIENTS.
% AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE ARE
% OPERATING IN A CRISIS SITUATION
% RIGHT NOW.
% WHERE WE'RE JUST SO UNDER
% STAFFED, WE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF
% OUR PATIENTS THE WAY WE NEED TO.
% AND WE KNOW THAT THE HOSPITAL
% MAY BE ABLE TO HIRE NEW NURSES
% ALL THE TIME, BUT WE CAN'T DO
% OUR JOBS IF OUR HOSPITALS ARE HL
% REVOLVING DOOR WHERE NURSES GET
% HIRED AND LEAVE A YEAR LATER.
% GO AHEAD.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: I'M
% WONDERING ON THE FLIP SIDE IF
% WALKING OFF THE JOB FOR THREE
% DAYS WILL HURT PATIENT CARE.
% >> Colin Gillis: WE'RE GOING ON
% STRIKE TO PROTECT OUR PATIENTS.
% AND WE'RE GIVING OUR -- WE
% ALREADY GAY THE HOSPITAL -- WE
% ARE GIVING THEM A TEN-DAY NOTICE
% SO THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED IN
% ORDER TO KEEP PATIENTS SAFE
% DURING A WORK STOPPAGE.
% BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
% STRIKE IS ON THE HOSPITAL.
% THEY CAN LEGALLY RECOGNIZE OUR
% UNION AND THEY REFUSE TO DO SO.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: DO YOU
% FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE NEW LEVERAGE
% NOW WITH THIS NURSE SHORTAGE?
% AND HOW ARE YOU PROCLAIMED
% HEALTH CARE HEROS THROUGH THE
% PANDEMIC?
% >> Colin Gillis: NURSES ARE --
% WE LIKE TO SAY IN NURSING THAT
% WE ARE THE MOST TRUSTED
% PROFESSION AND GALLOP HAS BEEN
% DOING A POLL THAT SHOWS THAT FOR
% A VERY LONG TIME.
% I THINK, MAYBE, YES, WE ARE EVEN
% MORE TRUSTED AS A RESULT OF THE
% PANDEMIC.
% BECAUSE WE WERE THERE WHEN OUR
% COUNTRY NEEDED US.
% AND BY THE WAY, THE PANDEMIC IS
% NOT OVER.
% WE DO THINK THAT WE ARE AS
% POPULAR AS EVER.
% AND ALSO, WITH THE NATIONAL
% CENSUS, IT DOES MAKE IT -- IT
% DOES MEAN THAT IT'S ON THE
% HOSPITAL TO PAY EVEN MORE
% ATTENTION TO US RIGHT NOW.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: COLIN
% GILLIS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
% AND THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
% >> Colin Gillis: THANK YOU.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: EVERY
% YEAR FOR LABOR DAY, THE CENTER
% ON WISCONSIN STRATEGY OR COWS AT
% UW MADISON RELEASES ITS STATE OF
% WORKING WISCONSIN.
% PINPOINTING WHAT IS GOING ON IN
% THE STATE LABOR MARKET.
% ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COWS, AN
% ECONOMIST, LAURA DRESSER IS HERE
% WITH MORE ON THE REPORT.
% HI, LAURA.
% >> Laura Dresser: HI.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: NEW U.S.
% JOB NUMBERS CAME OUT TODAY
% SHOWING JOB, SLOWING OF JOB
% GROWTH, WOULD YOU EXPECT THAT IN
% WISCONSIN AS WELL?
% EVEN IF ONE OF YOUR KEY FINDINGS
% IS THE GREAT RESIGNATION, AT
% LEAST IN THIS STATE IS A MYTH?
% >> Laura Dresser: YEAH, I THINK
% WE HAVE SEEN 2022 HAS BEEN
% DEFINED, I THINK, BY STEADY JOB
% GROWTH AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
% A LITTLE LESS ROBUST JOB GROWTH
% IN WISCONSIN.
% I THINK PEOPLE ARE RELIEVED TO
% SEE THAT 300,000 NATIONAL
% NUMBER.
% WHICH IS SLOWER THAN THE
% PROCEEDING MONTHS BUT IS STILL
% SOLID LABOR-MARKET GROWTH.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: LET'S GO
% BACK TO THAT MYTH YOU CALL THE
% GREAT RESIGNATION IN WISCONSIN.
% WHY IS IT A MYTH?
% >> Laura Dresser: I THINK PEOPLE
% HAVE A SENSE, THE STORIES FROM
% ABOUT A YEAR AGO GAVE PEOPLE A
% SENSE THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF
% PEOPLE THAT WERE LIKE, TAKE THIS
% JOB AND I'M GOING TO GO LIVE ON
% THE VAN LIFE AND DEVELOP AN
% INSTAGRAM FOLLOWING GROUP OR
% WHATEVER.%THERE WAS A LOT OF
RETREAT FROM
% WORK.
% BUT WHAT THERE WAS, ACTUALLY,
% AND IS CLEAR IN THE DATA, THAT
% PEOPLE REALLY SAW OPPORTUNITY
% AND THEY TOOK IT.
% THEY LEFT JOBS.
% AND THEY'VE MOVED UP AND THEY'VE
% MOVED ON.
% BUT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE WORKING
% IN THE STATE TODAY THAN WE DID
% THE PERCENTAGE, THE MOST THAT
% WE'VE EVER HAD PEOPLE WORKING IN
% THE STATE IN MAY THIS YEAR.
% WELL OVER 3 MILLION.
% AND WE HAVE A HIGHER LABOR FORCE
% PARTICIPATION RATE TODAY THAN WE
% DID FEBRUARY 2020 COMING INTO
% THE PANDEMIC.
% AND SO ON THESE MEASURES, PEOPLE
% ARE WORKING.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: BUT WHAT
% EXPLAINS THEM?
% SHORTAGES OF WORKERERS IN
% RESTAURANTS AND OTHER SERVICE
% INDUSTRY THAT WE HEAR ABOUT ALL
% THE TIME?
% >> Laura Dresser: WE CAN SEE HOW
% TIGHT THE LABOR MARKET IS.
% HOW MUCH DEMAND THERE IS FOR
% WORKERS.%AND I THINK WHAT WE
SEE IS
% WORKERS ARE ABLE TO SEE THAT
% OPPORTUNITY AND MAKE SOMETHING
% OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.
% EITHER BY LEAVING AND GOING TO
% GET A NEW JOB OR STAYING ON THE
% JOB THEY HAVE AND IMPROVING IT
% BY ASKING FOR HIGHER WAGES.
% BUT IT MEANS THAT THE LOWER WAGE
% INDUSTRIES, ESPECIALLY, HAVE
% EVIDENT JOB OPENINGS.
% AND I THINK PEOPLE FOUND WORK
% OTHER PLACES AND THAT MEANS THAT
% RESTAURANTS ARE THINKING ABOUT
% HOW THEY RESTRUCTURE THAT WORK
% TO MAKE IT APPEALING.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: SO YOU
% ALSO SHOW THAT WAGES ARE UP IN
% WISCONSIN.
% UP AT HISTORIC LEVELS.
% WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?
% >> Laura Dresser: YEAH, I THINK
% WE HAVE SEEN PRETTY SOLID WAGE
% GROWTH FROM 2018 TO 2021.
% OUR WAGE DATA IS ALWAYS
% INFLATION ADJUSTED.
% SO EXPRESSED IN CURRENT DOLLARS.
% NEXT YEAR I THINK INFLATION WILL
% CHANGE THE PICTURE
% SUBSTANTIALLY.%BUT COMING INT
O 2021, WHICH IS
% THE MOST RECENT AVAILABLE, WE
% ARE UP ABOUT $21.50 AN HOUR
% WHICH IS THE MEDIAN WAGE.
% WHICH IS $2 UP FROM 2018 AND
% $1.50 AN HOUR.
% THAT KIND OF GROWTH WE HAVEN'T
% SEEN SINCE THE LATE '90s.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: I'M NOT
% SURE WE HAVE THE TIME TO TALK
% ABOUT IT HERE, BUT THERE ARE
% DISPARITIES IN THAT.
% >> Laura Dresser: ABSOLUTELY.
% AND ALWAYS IN THIS ECONOMY.
% EVEN WHEN THERE IS GOOD NEWS.
% GOOD NEWS ISN'T ALWAYS BROADLY
% SHARED.
% AND THAT IS DEFINITELY, YOU CAN
% FIND THAT ON THE REPORT.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: THE
% NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
% REPORTS A 56% INCREASE IN
% PETITIONS FOR UNION ELECTIONS.
% HOW IS THE TIGHT LABOR MARKET
% CHANGED LABOR ORGANIZING IN
% WISCONSIN?
% WE JUST SPOKE WITH A MEMBER OF
% THE NURSES UNION AT UW HOSPITAL.
% HOW IS THAT CHANGING?
% >> Laura Dresser: I THINK THAT
% WHAT I THINK OF THE NATIONAL
% LABOR RELATIONS DATA IS THE KIND
% OF MOST FORMAL, MOST ORGANIZED
% VERSION OF SEEING WHAT WORKERS
% ARE DOING WITH WORK.
% AND I THINK THE WAGE DATA AND
% THE TURNOVER DATA AND THE JOB
% OPENINGS REALLY SHOWS THAT
% WORKERS SEE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT
% NOW AND IN INDIVIDUAL AND
% COLLECTIVE WAYS, YOU KNOW, AND
% FORMAL AND INFORMAL WAYS THEY
% ARE ASKING FOR MORE.
% AND THE MOST COLLECTIVE AND
% FORMAL WAY IS TO MOVE TO A
% PROCESS AND THAT IS WHAT WE SEE
% MORE OF IN THE STATE AS WELL.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: ++THANKS
% VERY MUCH.
% >> Laura Dresser: THANK YOU.
% >> Frederica Freyberg: FOR MORE
% ON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES FACING
% WISCONSIN, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
% PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND THEN CLICK%
ON THE NEWS TAB.
% THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
% >> FUNDING FOR HERE AND NOW IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.