UPDATED Monday, February 21, 2011 --- 6:35 p.m.

Statement by WEAC President Mary Bell

The following can be attributed to Mary Bell, a teacher and president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council:

“Taking away the rights of workers does nothing to balance our budget. Wisconsin’s teachers, support professionals, nurses and other public employees have agreed to the governor’s pension and health care requests, but they’re holding strong on the ability to retain a voice in their profession. Educators in Wisconsin care about what happens to our students and what happens in our schools.

“For the tens of thousands of Wisconsin educators – their families and friends – who rallied alongside other working families in Madison and around the state this week – this is, and always has been, about retaining a voice in their profession.

“My members know that a teacher’s working conditions are a child’s learning conditions. Silencing the voices of front-line workers will hurt our schools since decisions will be dictated by politicians like Governor Walker – without any input from the educators who work in classrooms everyday with our students.

“We cannot allow this to happen. The severity of the governor’s extreme proposal – and the devastating impact it will have on our schools and students – is something on which educators won’t be silent.

“This piece of the governor’s budget puzzle is dangerous and extreme. Silencing the voices of educators on the eve of devastating cuts will leave our schools and students without a voice –and the severe consequences will last long into the future.

“Governor Walker has been clear about one thing: he puts the interests of out-of-state corporations ahead of Wisconsin’s working families.

“We can’t bring Wisconsin together if the governor is unwilling to talk across party lines. If the governor says “no” to discussions, then it’s time for legislators to step up and show leadership to represent the voices of Wisconsin. We need solutions that move Wisconsin forward. “

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UPDATED Sunday, February 20, 2011 --- 3:55 p.m.

Wis. union head calls on teachers to go to work

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The head of Wisconsin's powerful teachers' union is calling on educators to return to classrooms Monday and Tuesday rather than continue being absent to protest, which has shut down several school districts.

Mary Bell, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, said during a conference call on Sunday that it was time for her members to return to work. For districts that do not recognize Monday as the President's Day holiday, she said teachers should go to work. Others should report as scheduled on Tuesday.

Madison and Milwaukee schools shut down last week, as have several other districts, while teachers protest a bill that would take away their ability to collectively bargain for their benefits and working conditions. Many called in sick.

Bell says teachers will continue opposing the proposal.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

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UPDATED Friday, February 18, 2011 --- 12:45 p.m.

Statement from WEAC President Mary Bell:

The following statement can be attributed to Mary Bell, president of
the Wisconsin Education Association Council:

“What’s happening right now in Wisconsin is historic. Tens of thousands of citizens are gathering and speaking out to stop the attacks on the rights of educators, nurses, EMTs and other public employees.

"As a union of public education employees, we’ve been clear: this is about school teachers and support staff retaining a voice in their profession. It’s about Wisconsin’s future. The proposed legislation strips away worker rights and destroys the collaborative partnerships that exist in Wisconsin.

“Ask any teacher, and they’ll tell you they didn’t get into this profession for the money. We have said all along that this isn’t about pay and benefits. Let’s be very clear: we are prepared to implement the financial concessions proposed to help our state in these tough times. But educators will not allow their voices to be silenced by denying their right to be part of a real union.

“It’s about compromise. We will meet the governor half way, but we will not be denied our right to collectively bargain. Our union represents the voice of front-line educators so they can continue to advocate for their students and schools.

“We need to work together to move Wisconsin forward and we must to do so in a way that doesn’t divide our state.”

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UPDATED Thursday, February 17, 2011 --- 9:00 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- School districts around Wisconsin canceled classes Thursday as state lawmakers were prepared to pass a momentous bill that would strip government workers of nearly all collective bargaining rights.

The proposal from Republican Gov. Scott Walker has drawn thousands of teachers, students and other demonstrators to the Capitol in protest. The nation's most aggressive anti-union proposal has been speeding through the Legislature since Walker introduced it a week ago.

Madison schools canceled classes for a second day as teachers prepared spend another day at the Capitol. Dozens of other school districts followed suit Thursday and closed, including La Crosse, Racine, Beaver Dam, Mosinee, Watertown and Stoughton.

The Legislature's budget committee passed Walker's bill on a partisan vote just before midnight.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Wednesday, February 16, 2011 --- 9:40 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The leader of Wisconsin's largest teachers union wants all state residents to join protests in Madison against bill that would strip most public workers of almost all their collective bargaining rights.

Wisconsin Education Association Council President Mary Bell did not explicitly call on teachers to skip classes during a news conference outside the state Capitol on Wednesday evening, but she did say that all Wisconsinites should look into their hearts and come to Madison on Thursday and Friday.

As of late Wednesday evening, Madison schools planned to close for a second consecutive day on Thursday because of anticipated teacher absences. The Oregon School District also had decided to close because of expected absences.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Wednesday, February 16, 2011 --- 7:55 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The leader of Wisconsin's largest teachers union wants all state residents to join protests in Madison against bill that would strip most public workers of almost all their collective bargaining rights.

Wisconsin Education Association Council President Mary Bell did not explicitly call on teachers to skip classes during a news conference outside the state Capitol on Wednesday evening, but she did say that all Wisconsinites should look into their hearts and come to Madison on Thursday and Friday.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker introduced a bill last week that would restrict public workers' collective bargaining rights to salaries only. The measure has prompted a massive protest at the state Capitol that has gone for the last two days.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Posted Wednesday, February 16, 2011 --- 7:25 p.m.

The teachers' union WEAC is urging its members to come to Madison Thursday and Friday.

The Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) represents approximately 98,000 public education employees.

At a press conference Wednesday night, representatives told its members "if you can't come to Madison, make yourself visible."

NBC15's Chris Woodard is covering this press conference. Woodard reports WEAC stopped short of saying it was asking for a teacher "sick out."

Watch for his report on NBC15 News at 10:00 p.m..