Dive Summary:

• Wisconsin's two largest teachers unions are set to discuss a merger following a weekend vote by the Wisconsin Education Association Council, which met Saturday in special session for the first time since 1972.
• Membership to both WEAC and American Federation of Teachers affiliate AFT-Wisconsin has declined about 30% since Act 10, the state's collective bargaining law, took effect, prohibiting unions from bargaining over benefits and working conditions, and making union dues no longer mandatory.
• The soonest any merger would take place is fall 2014, and WEAC--which once was a regional and statewide lobbying force--will now be focusing on supporting its local members as they back certain policies at the school board level.

From the article:

The special assembly also discussed proposed changes to WEAC’s business model. Bell said the organization was built around collective bargaining, but that was challenged after Gov. Scott Walker and a Republican-controlled Legislature overhauled collective bargaining for public sector workers in early 2011. The law prohibited unions from bargaining over benefits and working conditions. It also meant union dues were no longer mandatory. ...