-----------------------------------------------------
As it turns out, most of the membership dues go to pay the organization's salaries and benefits, some of which are quite extravagant.
For example, according to its 2009 fiscal year IRS form, the organization employed 151 people and paid them $14,382,812. That's an average compensation total of $95,250 per employee.
But high-ranking union officials were doing much better than that. For instance, Dan Burkhalter, WEAC executive director, was raking in $242,807, with $177,366 in wages; government relations director Robert Burke hauled in $189,505, with wages of $128,428; information and communications technology director Nathan Harper made $189,528, with wages of $129,221; financial and membership services director Jane Oberdorf made $188,164, with wages of $131,328; affiliate relations director Robert Baxter was paid $186,461, with wages of $127,774; and collective bargaining director Daniel Holub made $165,112, with wages of $110,534.
And what about WEAC president Mary Bell, the union's public persona, who describes herself as a teacher from Wisconsin Rapids? She made $173,466, with wages of $138,031. That's on par with Gov. Scott Walker's salary of $144,423.
All totaled, those seven employees collected $1,335,043, with wages of $942,682.
Just what I figured. Thanks for the breakdown.