The Whitefish Bay teachers union, like most other teacher unions in the Milwaukee area, voted to recertify and keep its union status.

The recertification was necessary as a result of the new collective-bargaining law, which requires unions vote to recertify every year. The move allows the union to continue negotiating wages. Teachers and many others in public unions are restricted from bargaining for anything else under the changes passed in Act 10.

Ninety-four percent of Whitefish Bay Education Association members voted to recertify. In a written statement, WBEA President Mark Yanisch said the union has a good working relationship with the Whitefish Bay School Board and the district's administration, and he said he believes the parties can move forward in a constructive way to address budget challenges and other challenges in public education.

Additionally, Yanisch added the union recertification sends a message to Gov. Scott Walker and his Republican colleagues in the State Legislature.

"This outcome also sends a political message to Madison that we are united in standing against the current political forces that are working against public education, and many of our members will continue to be active in the political process to produce a positive change," he said. "We are committed to being a strong voice for our profession, schools and students.

"Governor Walker and the legislature need to understand that you cannot cut $1.6 billion from public schools and not hurt students. We understand that next year’s challenges will be greater than the present, and want to restore the state’s commitment to maintaining Wisconsin’s educational successes. Our students and families deserve nothing less."

Across the state, 177 of 206 education groups in the state voted to recertify, according to the Wisconsin Employee Relations Commission, which oversaw the voting over the last 20 days.