1960s The TAA is founded in 1966.

A few years later, the university offers TAs and PAs the opportunity to enter into an agreement that they will collectively bargain with the university. TAs vote to make the TAA their bargaining unit, and the group begins bargaining on its first contract with UW-Madison in 1969.

The TAA: a history of organizing

1970s In 1970, the TAA strikes when a contract has not been approved within ten months. After four weeks, the university grants most of the TAAs contract requests, including health insurance for PAs and TAs. In 1979, the university asks concessions from the TAA, including agreeing that the university would not pay some of its TAs. 1980s The TAA strikes for five weeks in 1980. Three months after the strike ends, the university announces it will stop bargaining with the TAA, which is possible because no state law mandates that it do so. In 1985, the state legislature passes a bill changing that. TAs vote to certify the TAA so it can officially represent
them.

1990s TAs and PAs vote to require each TAA member who joins after the vote to pay union dues. The TAA also advocates for extending TA health benefits to domestic partners, but withdraws this request. The state includes anti-discrimination language in the TAA contract instead.

2000s The TAA strikes in 2004 because the state wants to require TAs to pay health insurance premiums. The strike is the groups first in over two decades. In 2009, the state legislature passes a law that allows research assistants to be represented by a union, but the TAA does not petition to represent RAs, and neither does any other group.

2011 Gov. Scott Walker introduces his budget repair bill, which eliminates collective bargaining on non-wage items for public unions. Protests ensue, and the TAA calls for a teach-out, during which many TAs hold classes off-campus. The bill passes, and the TAA begins working to recall Walker.

The TAA is a union that represents teaching assistants and project assistants on the UWMadison campus. Here is a brief look at its evolution over the past 45 years. By Liam Kane-Grade

Image courtesy of en.wikipedia.org Protesters march around the capitol square in protest of Walkers proposed policies.