SB132: Bill Text

LRB-0900/1

RAC:pgt&kg:hmh

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Senate BILL 132

April 28, 1999 - Introduced by Senators Grobschmidt, Wirch, Schultz, Plache and Moen, cosponsored by Representatives Musser, Hasenohrl, La Fave, Plouff, J. Lehman, Bock, Richards and Pocan. Referred to Committee on Education.

SB132,1,7 An Act to renumber 111.81 (1); to renumber and amend 111.83 (4); to amend 36.09 (4), 36.09 (4m), 111.83 (3), 111.83 (5) (a) to (c), (h) and (i), 111.84 (2) (c), 111.91 (2) (a), 111.91 (4), 111.93 (2) and (3), 230.10 (2) and 230.34 (1) (ar); to repeal and recreate 111.81 (10); and to create 111.81 (1g), 111.81 (7) (f), 111.81 (8m), 111.815 (4), 111.825 (2) (em) to (j) and (2m), 111.83 (4) (b) and 111.91 (2) (br) of the statutes; relating to: employment relations for members of the University of Wisconsin System faculty and academic staff.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill extends the state employment labor relations act to cover the members of the faculty and academic staff of the University of Wisconsin (UW) System. Excluded from coverage are management employes and confidential employes.

Under the bill, UW faculty and academic staff members are expressly guaranteed the right of self-organization. Collective bargaining is expressly authorized and required with certified representative organizations in relation to specified subjects of bargaining. Mandatory subjects of bargaining are salaries, fringe benefits and hours and conditions of employment. Bargaining is not required on certain subjects reserved to the management and direction of the university, except that procedures for the adjustment of grievances arising out of disciplinary actions are a mandatory subject of bargaining. In addition, bargaining is not permitted regarding the structure, mission and goals of the UW System, and matters affecting the statutory rights and responsibilities of students.

Bargaining units are structured so that the faculty and academic staff of the UW-Madison bargain as two separate units; the faculty and academic staff of the UW-Milwaukee bargain as two separate units; the faculty and academic staff of the UW-Extension bargain as two separate units; and the faculty and academic staff of each of the other UW campuses and the faculty and academic staff of the UW-Center System bargain as two separate units, with one unit for all faculty members on all of these campuses and one unit for all academic staff members on all of these campuses. Employes may vote to merge units, and employes in a merged unit may vote to redivide the unit. The faculty and academic staff of each campus or the Center System may decide individually whether to participate in bargaining. In the multicampus collective bargaining units, once a campus elects to participate in collective bargaining, it may not elect to withdraw from participation except in conjunction with the other campuses that have elected to participate, and in conjunction with the UW-Center System if the system elects to participate. Once the UW-Center System elects to participate in collective bargaining, it may not elect to withdraw from participation except in conjunction with the campuses in the multicampus unit that have elected to participate.

Employes in the bargaining units have the right to vote in an election conducted by the employment relations commission as to whether there shall be collective bargaining and, if so, with which representative. The votes for representative are counted at a campus or at the UW-Center System only if the campus or the center system elects to participate in collective bargaining. Responsibilities of the state as an employer are handled under the bill by the department of employment relations (DER). However, DER is directed to maintain close liaison with the board of regents of the UW System with respect to collective bargaining activities involving UW faculty and academic staff.

The unfair labor practices currently applicable to represented employes are extended to apply to the members of the UW faculty and academic staff, to their labor unions and to the state as their employer.

No compulsory means of dispute settlement are provided.

Strikes are prohibited. Strikes constitute an unfair labor practice and may be enjoined by a court. Currently, strikes by faculty and academic staff members are not authorized, but no law specifically treats the matter.

"Fair-share" (agency shop) and "maintenance of membership" agreements similar to those currently provided for represented employes are authorized. Under a fair-share agreement, the UW must deduct the amount of dues uniformly required of all members of a union for the cost of the collective bargaining process and contract administration from the paychecks of all employes in the bargaining unit represented by that union, regardless of whether the employes are union members, and pay the total amount deducted to the union. A fair-share agreement requires the approval of two-thirds of the employes voting in a unit before it may take effect; it may also be discontinued according to a similar procedure. Under a maintenance of membership agreement, the UW must deduct the amount of dues uniformly required of all members of a union for the cost of the collective bargaining process and contract administration from the paychecks of all employes in the bargaining unit who are members of the union, and all employes who are hired after the effective date of the agreement, and pay the total amount deducted to the union. A maintenance of membership agreement requires the approval of a majority of the employes voting in a unit before it may become effective, and may also be discontinued according to a similar procedure. If the faculty or academic staff at any institution votes not to participate in collective bargaining, that group does not participate in any fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement.

Currently, faculty and academic staff members are entitled to participate in the immediate governance and policy development at the institutions where they serve. The bill provides that, when a labor union is certified to represent faculty or academic staff members at an institution, this participation in governance and policy development does not extend to mandatory subjects of bargaining with the union or subjects that are treated in a collective bargaining agreement with the union.

Currently, no employment relations act applies to members of the UW faculty or academic staff. Although members of the faculty and academic staff may organize and join labor unions, the state is not required to recognize or bargain collectively with them by statute. The employment relations commission has no responsibility to conduct elections, mediate disputes, arbitrate grievances or adjudicate alleged unfair labor practices involving members of the faculty or academic staff and their employer.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB132, s. 1 Section 1. 36.09 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB132,4,5 36.09 (4) Faculty. The faculty of each institution, subject to the responsibilities and powers of the board, the president and the chancellor of such institution, shall be vested with responsibility for the immediate governance of such institution and shall actively participate in institutional policy development. As such, the faculty shall have the primary responsibility for academic and educational activities and faculty personnel matters. The faculty of each institution shall have the right to determine their own faculty organizational structure and to select representatives to participate in institutional governance. This subsection does not apply to governance and policy development by the faculty at an institution at which a labor organization is certified under subch. V of ch. 111 to represent the faculty with respect to any subject that is a mandatory subject of bargaining with that labor organization, or with respect to any subject that is treated in a collective bargaining agreement with that organization covering the faculty at that institution.

SB132, s. 2 Section 2. 36.09 (4m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB132,4,22 36.09 (4m) Academic staff. The academic staff members of each institution, subject to the responsibilities and powers of the board, the president and the chancellor and faculty of the institution, shall be active participants in the immediate governance of and policy development for the institution. The academic staff members have the primary responsibility for the formulation and review, and shall be represented in the development, of all policies and procedures concerning academic staff members, including academic staff personnel matters. The academic staff members of each institution shall have the right to organize themselves in a manner they determine and to select their representatives to participate in institutional governance. This subsection does not apply to governance and policy development by academic staff members at an institution at which a labor organization is certified under subch. V of ch. 111 to represent the academic staff members with respect to any subject that is a mandatory subject of bargaining with that labor organization, or with respect to any subject that is treated in a collective bargaining agreement with that organization covering academic staff members at that institution.

SB132, s. 3 Section 3. 111.81 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 111.81 (1m).

SB132, s. 4 Section 4. 111.81 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

SB132,5,3 111.81 (1g) "Academic staff" has the meaning given in s. 36.05 (1), but excludes individuals who hold appointments under s. 36.13 or faculty appointments under s. 36.15 (2m).

SB132, s. 5 Section 5. 111.81 (7) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

SB132,5,7 111.81 (7) (f) Faculty and academic staff of the University of Wisconsin System, excluding supervisors, management employes and individuals who are privy to confidential matters affecting the employer-employe relationship.

SB132, s. 6 Section 6. 111.81 (8m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB132,5,13 111.81 (8m) "Faculty" means individuals who hold the rank of professor, associate professor, assistant professor or instructor in an academic department or its functional equivalent or individuals who hold appointments under s. 36.13 (4) at any institution, but excludes individuals who hold appointments under s. 36.15 (1), (2) or (3) or academic staff appointments under s. 36.15 (2m).

SB132, s. 7 Section 7. 111.81 (10) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

SB132,5,18 111.81 (10) "Institution" means any university of the University of Wisconsin System, the University of Wisconsin-Center System, the University of Wisconsin-Extension or an organizational equivalent designated by the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

SB132, s. 8 Section 8. 111.815 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

SB132,5,23 111.815 (4) With regard to collective bargaining activities involving employes who are members of the faculty or academic staff, the secretary of the department shall maintain close liaison with the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

SB132, s. 9 Section 9. 111.825 (2) (em) to (j) and (2m) of the statutes are created to read:

SB132,5,25 111.825 (2) (em) The faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

SB132,6,1 (f) The faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

SB132,6,2 (fr) The faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

SB132,6,5 (g) The faculty of the universities of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Parkside, Platteville, River Falls, Stevens Point, Stout, Superior and Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin-Center System.

SB132,6,6 (h) The academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

SB132,6,7 (i) The academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

SB132,6,8 (ir) The academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

SB132,6,11 (j) The academic staff of the universities of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Parkside, Platteville, River Falls, Stevens Point, Stout, Superior and Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin-Center System.

SB132,6,24 (2m) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (2), 2 or more collective bargaining units specified in sub. (2) (em) to (j) may be combined into a single unit. If 2 or more collective bargaining units seek to combine into a single collective bargaining unit, the commission shall, upon the petition of at least 30% of the employes in each unit, hold an election to determine whether a majority of those employes voting in each unit desires to combine into a single unit. A combined collective bargaining unit shall be formed including all employes from each of those units in which a majority of the employes voting in the election approves a combined unit. The combined collective bargaining unit shall be formed immediately if there is no existing collective bargaining agreement in force in any of the units to be combined. If there is a collective bargaining agreement in force at the time of the election in any of the collective bargaining units to be combined, the combined unit shall be formed upon expiration of the last agreement for the units concerned.

SB132,7,19 (b) If 2 or more collective bargaining units have combined under par. (a), the commission shall, upon petition of at least 30% of the employes in any of the original units, hold an election of the employes in the original unit to determine whether the employes in that unit desire to withdraw from the combined collective bargaining unit. If a majority of the employes voting desires to withdraw from the combined collective bargaining unit, separate units consisting of the unit in which the election was held and a unit composed of the remainder of the combined unit shall be formed. The new collective bargaining units shall be formed immediately if there is no collective bargaining agreement in force for the combined unit. If there is a collective bargaining agreement in force for the combined collective bargaining unit, the new units shall be formed upon the expiration of the agreement. An election to change or discontinue representation under s. 111.83 (6) may be held in the petitioning collective bargaining unit concurrently with an election under this paragraph. The ballots for the election under s. 111.83 (6) shall only be counted if a majority of the employes voting at the election votes to withdraw from the combined collective bargaining unit. While there is a collective bargaining agreement in force for the combined collective bargaining unit, a petition for an election under this paragraph may only be filed during October in the calendar year prior to the expiration of the agreement.

SB132, s. 10 Section 10. 111.83 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB132,9,2 111.83 (3) Whenever a question arises concerning the representation of employes in a collective bargaining unit the commission shall determine the representative thereof by taking a secret ballot of the employes and certifying in writing the results thereof to the interested parties and to the secretary of the department. There shall be included on any ballot for the election of representatives the names of all labor organizations having an interest in representing the employes participating in the election as indicated in petitions filed with the commission. The name of any existing representative shall be included on the ballot without the necessity of filing a petition. The commission may exclude from the ballot one who, at the time of the election, stands deprived of his or her rights under this subchapter by reason of a prior adjudication of his or her having engaged in an unfair labor practice. The ballot shall be so prepared as to permit a vote against representation by anyone named on the ballot. For elections in collective bargaining units composed of employes who are members of the faculty or academic staff, whenever more than one representative qualifies to appear on the ballot, the ballot shall be prepared to provide separate votes on 2 questions. The first question shall be: "Shall the employes of the .... (name of collective bargaining unit) participate in collective bargaining?". The 2nd question shall be: "If the employes of the .... (name of collective bargaining unit) elect to participate in collective bargaining, which labor organization do you favor to act as representative of the employes?". The 2nd question shall not include a choice for no representative. All employes in the collective bargaining unit may vote on both questions. Unless a majority of those employes voting in the election votes to participate in collective bargaining, no votes for a particular representative may be counted. If a majority of those employes voting in the election votes to participate in collective bargaining, the ballots for representatives shall be counted. In the collective bargaining units specified in s. 111.825 (2) (g) and (j), only those ballots for representatives cast at those institutions at which a majority of the employes voting in the election votes to participate in collective bargaining shall be counted in determining the representative. The commission's certification of the results of any election is conclusive as to the findings included therein unless reviewed under s. 111.07 (8).

SB132, s. 11 Section 11. 111.83 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 111.83 (4) (a) and amended to read:

SB132,9,14 111.83 (4) (a) Whenever an election has been conducted under sub. (3) in a collective bargaining unit specified in s. 111.825 (1) or (2) (a) to (e) in which the name of more than one proposed representative appears on the ballot and results in no conclusion, the commission may, if requested by any party to the proceeding within 30 days from the date of the certification of the results of the election, conduct a runoff election. In that runoff election, the commission shall drop from the ballot the name of the representative who received the least number of votes at the original election. The commission shall drop from the ballot the privilege of voting against any representative if the least number of votes cast at the first election was against representation by any named representative.