111.39(4)(a)(a) The department shall employ such examiners as are necessary to hear and decide complaints of discrimination and to assist in the effective administration of this subchapter. The examiners may make findings and orders under this section.
111.39(4)(b)
(b) If the department finds probable cause to believe that any discrimination has been or is being committed, that unfair honesty testing has occurred or is occurring or that unfair genetic testing has occurred or is occurring, it may endeavor to eliminate the practice by conference, conciliation or persuasion. If the department does not eliminate the discrimination, unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing, the department shall issue and serve a written notice of hearing, specifying the nature of the discrimination that appears to have been committed or unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing that has occurred, and requiring the person named, in this section called the "respondent", to answer the complaint at a hearing before an examiner. The notice shall specify a time of hearing not less than 30 days after service of the complaint, and a place of hearing within either the county of the respondent's residence or the county in which the discrimination, unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing appears to have occurred. The testimony at the hearing shall be recorded or taken down by a reporter appointed by the department.
111.39(4)(c)
(c) If, after hearing, the examiner finds that the respondent has engaged in discrimination, unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing, the examiner shall make written findings and order such action by the respondent as will effectuate the purpose of this subchapter, with or without back pay. If the examiner awards any payment to an employe because of a violation of
s. 111.321 by an individual employed by the employer, under
s. 111.32 (6), the employer of that individual is liable for the payment. If the examiner finds a respondent violated
s. 111.322 (2m), the examiner shall award compensation in lieu of reinstatement if requested by all parties and may award compensation in lieu of reinstatement if requested by any party. Compensation in lieu of reinstatement for a violation of
s. 111.322 (2m) may not be less than 500 times nor more than 1,000 times the hourly wage of the person discriminated against when the violation occurred. Back pay liability may not accrue from a date more than 2 years prior to the filing of a complaint with the department. Interim earnings or amounts earnable with reasonable diligence by the person discriminated against or subjected to unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing shall operate to reduce back pay otherwise allowable. Amounts received by the person discriminated against or subject to the unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing as unemployment benefits or welfare payments shall not reduce the back pay otherwise allowable, but shall be withheld from the person discriminated against or subject to unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing and immediately paid to the unemployment reserve fund or, in the case of a welfare payment, to the welfare agency making the payment.
111.39(4)(d)
(d) The department shall serve a certified copy of the findings and order on the respondent, the order to have the same force as other orders of the department and be enforced as provided in
s. 103.005. Any person aggrieved by noncompliance with the order may have the order enforced specifically by suit in equity. If the examiner finds that the respondent has not engaged in discrimination, unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing as alleged in the complaint, the department shall serve a certified copy of the examiner's findings on the complainant together with an order dismissing the complaint.
111.39(5)(a)(a) Any respondent or complainant who is dissatisfied with the findings and order of the examiner may file a written petition with the department for review by the commission of the findings and order.
111.39(5)(b)
(b) If no petition is filed within 21 days from the date that a copy of the findings and order of the examiner is mailed to the last-known address of the respondent the findings and order shall be considered final for purposes of enforcement under
sub. (4) (d). If a timely petition is filed, the commission, on review, may either affirm, reverse or modify the findings or order in whole or in part, or set aside the findings and order and remand to the department for further proceedings. Such actions shall be based on a review of the evidence submitted. If the commission is satisfied that a respondent or complainant has been prejudiced because of exceptional delay in the receipt of a copy of any findings and order it may extend the time another 21 days for filing the petition with the department.
111.39(5)(c)
(c) On motion, the commission may set aside, modify or change any decision made by the commission, at any time within 28 days from the date thereof if it discovers any mistake therein, or upon the grounds of newly discovered evidence. The commission may on its own motion, for reasons it deems sufficient, set aside any final decision of the commission within one year from the date thereof upon grounds of mistake or newly discovered evidence, and remand the case to the department for further proceedings.
111.39(6)
(6) If an order issued under
sub. (4) is unenforceable against any labor organization in which membership is a privilege, the employer with whom the labor organization has an all-union shop agreement shall not be held accountable under this chapter when the employer is not responsible for the discrimination, the unfair honesty testing or the unfair genetic testing.
111.39 Annotation
The department's order was overbroad in that it exceeded the nature of the discrimination set forth in the notice of hearing. Chicago, M., St. P. & P. RR. Co. v. ILHR Dept. 62 W (2d) 392, 215 NW (2d) 443.
111.39 Annotation
Although s. 111.36 (3) (b), 1969 stats., [now s. 111.39 (4) (c)] became effective subsequent to discrimination against the plaintiff, it and the language of s. 111.31, 1969 stats., indicate a legislative design to prevent the loss of wages resulting from employment discrimination, hence plaintiff's complaint seeking back pay states a cause of action. Yanta v. Montgomery Ward & Co., Inc. 66 W (2d) 53, 224 NW (2d) 389.
111.39 Annotation
An employer found to have discriminated against a female employe with respect to required length of pregnancy leave and employe benefits applicable thereto was denied adequate notice of the maternity leave benefits issue prior to hearing as required by s. 111.36 (3) (a), 1971 stats., [now s. 111.39 (4) (b)] and s. 227.09, 1971 stats., because: (1) The notice received by the employer merely charged "an act of discrimination due to sex;" (2) a copy of the complaint included therewith specified the discriminatory act as the refusal to rehire the employe as soon as she was able to return to work; (3) the ILHR department itself characterized the complaint as involving only length of the required leave; and (4) the discriminatory aspects of the required pregnancy leave and the benefits applicable thereto constitute separate legal issues. Wisconsin Telephone Co. v. ILHR Dept. 68 W (2d) 345, 228 NW (2d) 649.
111.39 Annotation
Section 111.36 (3m) (c), 1977 stats., [now s. 111.39 (5) (c)] shows policy against opening Fair Employment proceedings more than one year after commission's final order; court should not use ch. 227 or s. 752.35 to circumvent that policy. Chicago & N.W.R.R. v. Labor & Ind. Rev. Comm. 91 W (2d) 462, 283 NW (2d) 603 (Ct. App. 1979).
111.39 Annotation
Valid offer of reinstatement terminates accrual of back pay. Commission erred in finding employer's offer to be sufficient. Prejudgment interest of 7% awarded on back pay. Anderson v. Labor & Industry Rev. Comm. 111 W (2d) 245, 330 NW (2d) 594 (1983).
111.39 Annotation
Sub. (1) is statute of limitations and, as such, may be waived as affirmative defense. Milwaukee Co. v. Labor & Ind. Rev. Comm. 113 W (2d) 199, 335 NW (2d) 412 (Ct. App. 1983).
111.39 Annotation
Under s. 111.36 (3) (b), 1975 stats., [now s. 111.39 (4) (c)] department may award attorney's fees to prevailing complainant. Watkins v. LIRC, 117 W (2d) 753, 345 NW (2d) 482 (1984).
111.39 Annotation
Under (1) "filed" means "delivery to intended recipient" and "occurrence" means date of discriminatory act; in termination cases, triggering occurrence is date employe is informed of termination. Hilmes v. DILHR, 147 W (2d) 48, 433 NW (2d) 251 (Ct. App. 1988).
111.39 Annotation
See note to s. 111.375 citing Trans. Dept. v. Personnel Commission, 176 W (2d) 731, 500 NW (2d) 664 (1993).
111.39 Annotation
Evidence occurring outside the sub. (1) 300 day statute of limitations period may be admitted as proof of a state of mind for acts during a relevant time. Abbyland Processing v. LIRC, 206 W (2d) 308, 557 NW (2d) 419 (Ct. App. 1996).
111.39 Annotation
Victims of discrimination in the work place who voluntarily quit a position must show constructive discharge to recover back pay and reinstatement. Marten Transport, Ltd. v. DILHR, 176 W (2d) 1012, 501 NW (2d) 391 (1993).
111.39 Annotation
What constitutes reasonable diligence under sub. (4) (c) is to be determined from all the facts of a case. U. S. Paper Converters, Inc. v. LIRC, 208 W (2d) 523, 561 NW (2d) 756 (Ct. App. 1997).
111.39 Annotation
Proposed rule which would prohibit departmental employes from making public any information obtained under s. 111.36, 1969 stats., [now s. 111.39] prior to the time an adjudicatory hearing takes place, if used as a blanket to prohibit persons from inspecting or copying public papers and records, would be in violation of s. 19.21. Open meeting statute, s. 66.77, 1973 stats. [now ss. 19.81 to 19.98], discussed. 60 Atty. Gen. 43.
111.39 Annotation
Department may proceed in matter despite settlement between the parties. Discrimination can be eliminated without full back pay. 66 Atty. Gen. 28.
111.395
111.395
Judicial review. Findings and orders of the commission under this subchapter are subject to review under
ch. 227. Orders of the commission shall have the same force as orders of the department under
chs. 103 to
106 and may be enforced as provided in
s. 103.005 (11) and
(12) or specifically by a suit in equity. In any enforcement action the merits of any order of the commission are not subject to judicial review. Upon such review, or in any enforcement action, the department of justice shall represent the commission.
111.395 History
History: 1977 c. 29,
418;
1981 c. 334 s.
23; Stats. 1981 s. 111.395;
1995 a. 27.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
111.50
111.50
Declaration of policy. It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this state that it is necessary and essential in the public interest to facilitate the prompt, peaceful and just settlement of labor disputes between public utility employers and their employes which cause or threaten to cause an interruption in the supply of an essential public utility service to the citizens of this state and to that end to encourage the making and maintaining of agreements concerning wages, hours and other conditions of employment through collective bargaining between public utility employers and their employes, and to provide settlement procedures for labor disputes between public utility employers and their employes in cases where the collective bargaining process has reached an impasse and stalemate and as a result thereof the parties are unable to effect such settlement and which labor disputes, if not settled, are likely to cause interruption of the supply of an essential public utility service. The interruption of public utility service results in damage and injury to the public wholly apart from the effect upon the parties immediately concerned and creates an emergency justifying action which adequately protects the general welfare.
111.50 Annotation
Application of open meeting law to duties of WERC discussed. 68 Atty. Gen. 171.
111.51
111.51
Definitions. When used in this subchapter:
111.51(1)
(1) "Arbitrators" refers to the arbitrators provided for in this subchapter.
111.51(2)
(2) "Collective bargaining" means collective bargaining of or similar to the kind provided for by
subch. I.
111.51(3)
(3) "Commission" means the employment relations commission.
111.51(4)
(4) "Essential service" means furnishing water, light, heat, gas, electric power, public passenger transportation or communication, or any one or more of them, to the public in this state.
111.51(5)(a)(a) "Public utility employer" means any employer, other than the state or any political subdivision thereof, engaged in the business of furnishing water, light, heat, gas, electric power, public passenger transportation or communication, or any one or more of them, to the public in this state; and shall be considered to include a rural electrification cooperative association engaged in the business of furnishing any one or more of such services or utilities to its members in this state.
111.51(5)(b)
(b) Nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted or construed to mean that rural electrification cooperative associations are brought under or made subject to
ch. 196 or other laws creating, governing or controlling public utilities, it being the intent of the legislature to specifically exclude rural electrification cooperative associations from the provisions of such laws.
111.51(5)(c)
(c) This subchapter does not apply to railroads nor railroad employes.
111.51 History
History: 1983 a. 189;
1995 a. 225.
111.52
111.52
Settlement of labor disputes through collective bargaining and arbitration. It shall be the duty of public utility employers and their employes in public utility operations to exert every reasonable effort to settle labor disputes by the making of agreements through collective bargaining between the parties, and by maintaining the agreements when made, and to prevent, if possible, the collective bargaining process from reaching a state of impasse and stalemate.
111.53
111.53
Appointment of conciliators and arbitrators. Within 30 days after July 25, 1947, the commission shall appoint a panel of persons to serve as conciliators or arbitrators under this subchapter. No person shall serve as a conciliator and arbitrator in the same dispute. Each person appointed to said panels shall be a resident of this state, possessing, in the judgment of the commission, the requisite experience and judgment to qualify such person capably and fairly to deal with labor dispute problems. All such appointments shall be made without a consideration of the political affiliations of the appointee. Each appointee shall take an oath to perform honestly and to the best of the appointee's ability the duties of conciliator or arbitrator, as the case may be. Any appointee may be removed by the commission at any time or may resign his or her position at any time by notice in writing to the commission. Any vacancy in the panels shall be filled by the commission within 30 days after such vacancy occurs. Such conciliators and arbitrators shall be paid reasonable compensation for services and for necessary expenses, in an amount to be fixed by the commission, such compensation and expenses to be paid out of the appropriation made to the commission by
s. 20.425 upon such authorizations as the commission may prescribe.
111.53 History
History: 1993 a. 492.
111.54
111.54
Conciliation. If in any case of a labor dispute between a public utility employer and its employes, the collective bargaining process reaches an impasse and stalemate, with the result that the employer and the employes are unable to effect a settlement thereof, then either party to the dispute may petition the commission to appoint a conciliator from the panel, provided for by
s. 111.53. Upon the filing of such petition, the commission shall consider the same, and if in its opinion, the collective bargaining process, notwithstanding good faith efforts on the part of both sides to such dispute, has reached an impasse and stalemate and such dispute, if not settled, will cause or is likely to cause the interruption of an essential service, the commission shall appoint a conciliator from the panel to attempt to effect the settlement of such dispute. The conciliator so named shall expeditiously meet with the disputing parties and shall exert every reasonable effort to effect a prompt settlement of the dispute.
111.55
111.55
Conciliator unable to effect settlement; appointment of arbitrators. If a conciliator named under
s. 111.54 is unable to effect a settlement of a labor dispute between a public utility employer and its employes within a 15-day period after the conciliator's appointment, the conciliator shall report that fact to the commission. The commission, if it believes that a continuation of the dispute will cause or is likely to cause the interruption of an essential service, shall submit to the parties the names of either 3 or 5 persons from the panel provided for in
s. 111.53. Each party shall alternately strike one name from such list of persons. The person or persons left on the list shall be appointed by the commission as the arbitrator or arbitrators to hear and determine such dispute.
111.55 History
History: 1993 a. 492;
1995 a. 225.
111.56
111.56
Existing state of affairs to be maintained. During the pendency of proceedings under this subchapter existing wages, hours, and conditions of employment shall not be changed by action of either party without the consent of the other.
111.56 History
History: 1979 c. 110 s.
60 (9).
111.57
111.57
Arbitrator to hold hearings. 111.57(1)
(1) The arbitrator shall promptly hold hearings and shall have the power to administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses and the furnishing by the parties of such information as may be necessary to a determination of the issue or issues in dispute. Both parties to the dispute shall have the opportunity to be present at the hearing, both personally and by counsel, and to present such oral and documentary evidence as the arbitrator shall deem relevant to the issue or issues in controversy.
111.57(2)
(2) It shall be the duty of the arbitrator to make written findings of fact, and to promulgate a written decision and order, upon the issue or issues presented in each case. In making such findings the arbitrator shall consider only the evidence in the record. When a valid contract is in effect defining the rights, duties and liabilities of the parties with respect to any matter in dispute, the arbitrators shall have power only to determine the proper interpretation and application of contract provisions which are involved.
111.57(3)
(3) Where there is no contract between the parties, or where there is a contract but the parties have begun negotiations looking to a new contract or amendment of the existing contract, and wage rates or other conditions of employment under the proposed new or amended contract are in dispute, the factors, among others, to be given weight by the arbitrator in arriving at decision, shall include:
111.57(3)(a)
(a) Comparison of wage rates or other conditions of employment of the utility in question with prevailing wage rates or other conditions of employment in the local operating area involved;
111.57(3)(b)
(b) Comparison of wage rates or other working conditions with wage rates or other working conditions maintained for the same or similar work of workers exhibiting like or similar skills under the same or similar working conditions in the local operating area involved;
111.57(3)(c)
(c) The value of the service to the consumer in the local operating area involved;
111.57(3)(d)
(d) Where a public utility employer has more than one plant or office and some or all of such plurality of plants or offices are found by the arbitrator to be located in separate areas with different characteristics, consideration shall be given to the establishment of separate wage rates or schedule of wage rates and separate conditions of employment for plants and offices in different areas;
111.57(3)(e)
(e) The overall compensation presently received by the employes, having regard not only to wages for time actually worked but also to wages for time not worked, including (without limiting the generality of the foregoing) vacation, holidays, and other excused time, and all benefits received, including insurance and pensions, medical and hospitalization benefits and the continuity and stability of employment enjoyed by the employes. The foregoing enumeration of factors shall not be construed as precluding the arbitrator from taking into consideration other factors not confined to the local labor market area which are normally or traditionally taken into consideration in the determination of wages, hours and working conditions through voluntary collective bargaining or arbitration between the parties.
111.58
111.58
Standards for arbitration. The arbitrator shall not make any award which would infringe upon the right of the employer to manage the employer's business or which would interfere with the internal affairs of the union.
111.58 History
History: 1993 a. 492.
111.59
111.59
Filing order with clerk of circuit court; period effective; retroactivity. 111.59(1)
(1) In this section, "order" means the findings, decision and order of the arbitrator.
111.59(2)
(2) The arbitrator shall hand down his or her order within 30 days after his or her appointment; except that the parties may agree to extend, or the commission may for good cause extend the period for not to exceed an additional 30 days. If the arbitrators do not agree, then the decision of the majority shall constitute the order in the case. The arbitrator shall furnish to each of the parties and to the public service commission a copy of the order. A certified copy thereof shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county wherein the dispute arose or where the majority of the employes involved in the dispute resides.
111.59(3)
(3) Unless the order is reversed upon a petition for review filed pursuant to
s. 111.60, the order, together with any other agreements that the parties may themselves have reached, shall become binding upon, and shall control the relationship between the parties from the date on which the order is filed with the clerk of the circuit court, as provided in
sub. (2). The order shall continue effective for one year from that date, but the order may be changed by mutual consent or agreement of the parties. No order of the arbitrators relating to wages or rates of pay shall be retroactive to a date before the date of the termination of any contract which may have existed between the parties, or, if there was no prior contract, to a date before the day on which the demands involved in the dispute were presented to the other party. The question whether or not new contract provisions or amendments to an existing contract are retroactive to the terminating date of a present contract, amendments or part thereof, shall be matter for collective bargaining or decision by the arbitrator.
111.59 History
History: 1993 a. 492;
1995 a. 225.
111.60
111.60
Judicial review of order of arbitrator. 111.60(1)
(1) Either party to the dispute may, within 15 days from the date such order is filed with the clerk of the court, petition the court for a review of such order on the ground that:
111.60(1)(a)
(a) The parties were not given reasonable opportunity to be heard;
111.60(1)(b)
(b) The arbitrator exceeded the arbitrator's powers;
111.60(1)(c)
(c) The order is not supported by the evidence; or
111.60(1)(d)
(d) The order was procured by fraud, collusion or other unlawful means.
111.60(2)
(2) A summons to the other party to the dispute shall be issued as provided by law in other civil cases; and either party shall have the same rights to a change of venue from the county, or to a change of judge, as provided by law in other civil cases.
111.60(3)
(3) The judge of the circuit court shall review the order solely upon the grounds for review hereinabove set forth and shall affirm, reverse, modify or remand such order to the arbitrator as to any issue or issues for such further action as the circumstances require.
111.60 History
History: 1993 a. 492.
111.61
111.61
Commission to establish rules. The commission shall establish appropriate rules and regulations to govern the conduct of conciliation and arbitration proceedings under this subchapter.
111.62
111.62
Strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns, lockouts, unlawful; penalty. It shall be unlawful for any group of employes of a public utility employer acting in concert to call a strike or to go out on strike, or to cause any work stoppage or slowdown which would cause an interruption of an essential service; it also shall be unlawful for any public utility employer to lock out the employer's employes when such action would cause an interruption of essential service; and it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to instigate, to induce, to conspire with, or to encourage any other person or persons to engage in any strike or lockout or slowdown or work stoppage which would cause an interruption of an essential service. Any violation of this section by any member of a group of employes acting in concert or by any employer or by any officer of an employer acting for such employer, or by any other individual, shall constitute a misdemeanor.
111.62 History
History: 1993 a. 492.
111.63
111.63
Enforcement. The commission shall enforce compliance with this subchapter and to that end may file an action in the circuit court of the county in which any violation of this subchapter occurs to restrain and enjoin the violation and to compel the performance of the duties imposed by this subchapter. In any action described in this section,
ss. 103.505 to
103.61 do not apply.
111.63 History
History: 1997 a. 253.
111.64(1)(1) Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to require any individual employe to render labor or service without the employe's consent, or to make illegal the quitting of the employe's labor or service or the withdrawal from the employe's place of employment unless done in concert or agreement with others. No court shall have power to issue any process to compel an individual employe to render labor or service or to remain at the employe's place of employment without the employe's consent. It is the intent of this subchapter only to forbid employes of a public utility employer to engage in a strike or to engage in a work slowdown or stoppage in concert, and to forbid a public utility employer to lock out the employer's employes, where such acts would cause an interruption of essential service.
111.64(2)
(2) All laws and parts of laws in conflict herewith are to the extent of such conflict concerning the subject matter dealt with in this subchapter supplanted by the provisions of this subchapter.
111.64 History
History: 1993 a. 492.
MUNICIPAL EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS
111.70
111.70
Municipal employment. 111.70(1)
(1)
Definitions. As used in this subchapter:
111.70(1)(a)
(a) "Collective bargaining" means the performance of the mutual obligation of a municipal employer, through its officers and agents, and the representative of its municipal employes in a collective bargaining unit, to meet and confer at reasonable times, in good faith, with the intention of reaching an agreement, or to resolve questions arising under such an agreement, with respect to wages, hours and conditions of employment, and with respect to a requirement of the municipal employer for a municipal employe to perform law enforcement and fire fighting services under
s. 61.66, except as provided in
sub. (4) (m) and
s. 40.81 (3) and except that a municipal employer shall not meet and confer with respect to any proposal to diminish or abridge the rights guaranteed to municipal employes under
ch. 164. The duty to bargain, however, does not compel either party to agree to a proposal or require the making of a concession. Collective bargaining includes the reduction of any agreement reached to a written and signed document. The municipal employer shall not be required to bargain on subjects reserved to management and direction of the governmental unit except insofar as the manner of exercise of such functions affects the wages, hours and conditions of employment of the municipal employes in a collective bargaining unit. In creating this subchapter the legislature recognizes that the municipal employer must exercise its powers and responsibilities to act for the government and good order of the jurisdiction which it serves, its commercial benefit and the health, safety and welfare of the public to assure orderly operations and functions within its jurisdiction, subject to those rights secured to municipal employes by the constitutions of this state and of the United States and by this subchapter.
111.70(1)(b)
(b) "Collective bargaining unit" means a unit consisting of municipal employes who are school district professional employes or of municipal employes who are not school district professional employes that is determined by the commission to be appropriate for the purpose of collective bargaining.
