New Berlin municipal union decertifies, donates money to charity

New Berlin library aides, clerical staff, police and fire dispatchers and inspectors have chosen not to recertify their union, and members are giving their share of collected dues back to the community in the form of donations to the New Berlin food pantry, HAWS and other charities.

Under new state law, public employee unions must recertify every year. But the same law strips most of the unions' bargaining powers away.

The New Berlin employees had been represented by Local 2676 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The local represented 29 full-time and 21 part-time employees.

On Saturday, the union presented $5,935 to the New Berlin food pantry and $1,505 to HAWS to protect homeless and mistreated animals.

Members also requested that additional money be distributed to other charities such as the CAP Fund, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, Waukesha Special Olympics, the American Diabetes Association and the Susan G. Koman for the cure organization that fights cancer.

Local 2676 formed in the 1970s.