AB925: Bill Text

LRB-2350/1

RAC&JTK:kmg:mkd

1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE

1995 Assembly BILL 925

February 21, 1996 - Introduced by Representatives Baldus, Musser, Baldwin, Plombon, Boyle, Wirch, Bock, Ryba, Gronemus, Hasenohrl and Bell, cosponsored by Senators C. Potter, Clausing, Chvala, Andrea, Grobschmidt, Moen and Jauch. Referred to Committee on Labor and Employment.

AB925,1,7 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 re peal and recreate 111.81 (10) and 111.91 (2) (a); and to create 111.81 (1), 111.81 (7) (e), 111.81 (8m), 111.815 (4), 111.825 (2) (e) 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. Ex cluded from coverage are members of the faculty and academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Extension, management employes and confidential employes.

Under the bill, UW faculty and academic staff members are expressly guaran teed 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 struc ture, 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 2 separate units; the faculty and academic staff of the UW- Milwaukee bargain as 2 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 sys tem bargain as 2 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. Em ployes 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 collec tive 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 par ticipate in collective bargaining, it may not elect to withdraw from participation ex cept 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 bar gaining 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. However, the department is directed to maintain close liaison with the Board of Re gents 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 ex tended 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 sim ilar 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 repre sented 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 mem bership 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 simi lar procedure. If the faculty or academic staff at any institution votes not to partici pate 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 develop ment 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 un fair labor practices involving members of the faculty or academic staff and their em ployer.

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:

AB925, s. 1 Section 1. 36.09 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB925,4,2 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 de termine their own faculty organizational structure and to select representatives to participate in institutional governance. This subsection does not apply to gover nance and policy development by the faculty at an institution at which a labor orga nization 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.

AB925, s. 2 Section 2. 36.09 (4m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB925,4,18 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 chancel lor and faculty of the institution, shall be active participants in the immediate gover nance of and policy development for the institution. The academic staff members have the primary responsibility for the formulation and review, and shall be repre sented 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 de termine and to select their representatives to participate in institutional gover nance. This subsection does not apply to governance and policy development by aca demic 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 sub ject 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.

AB925, s. 3 Section 3. 111.81 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 111.81 (1m).

AB925, s. 4 Section 4. 111.81 (1) of the statutes is created to read:

AB925,4,23 111.81 (1) "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).

AB925, s. 5 Section 5. 111.81 (7) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB925,5,3 111.81 (7) (e) Faculty and academic staff of the University of Wisconsin System, excluding supervisors, management employes and individuals who are privy to con fidential matters affecting the employer-employe relationship.

AB925, s. 6 Section 6. 111.81 (8m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB925,5,10 111.81 (8m) "Faculty" means individuals who hold the rank of professor, associ ate professor, assistant professor or instructor in an academic department or its func tional equivalent or individuals who hold appointments under s. 36.13 (4) at any institution other than the University of Wisconsin-Extension, but excludes indi viduals who hold appointments under s. 36.15 (1), (2) or (3) or academic staff appoint ments under s. 36.15 (2m).

AB925, s. 7 Section 7. 111.81 (10) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB925,5,14 111.81 (10) "Institution" means any university of the University of Wisconsin System, the center system or an organizational equivalent designated by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

AB925, s. 8 Section 8. 111.815 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB925,5,19 111.815 (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.

AB925, s. 9 Section 9. 111.825 (2) (e) to (j) and (2m) of the statutes are created to read:

AB925,5,21 111.825 (2) (e) The faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

AB925,5,22 (f) The faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

AB925,5,25 (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.

AB925,6,1 (h) The academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

AB925,6,2 (i) The academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

AB925,6,5 (j) The academic staff of the universities of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Parkside, Platteville, River Falls, Stevens Point, Stout, Superi or and Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin-Center System.

AB925,6,18 (2m) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (2), 2 or more collective bargaining units speci fied in sub. (2) (e) 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 commis sion shall, upon the petition of at least 30% of the employes in each unit, hold an elec tion 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 agree ment 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 agree ment for the units concerned.

AB925,7,11 (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 col lective 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 collec tive bargaining agreement in force for the combined unit. If there is a collective bar gaining 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 dis continue 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 vot ing 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 dur ing October in the calendar year prior to the expiration of the agreement.

AB925, s. 10 Section 10. 111.83 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB925,8,17 111.83 (3) Whenever a question arises concerning the representation of em ployes in a collective bargaining unit the commission shall determine the representa tive thereof by taking a secret ballot of the employes and certifying in writing the re sults 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 la bor organizations having an interest in representing the employes participating in the election as indicated in petitions filed with the commission. The name of any ex isting 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 partic ipate in collective bargaining, which labor organization do you favor to act as repre sentative of the employes?". The 2nd question shall not include a choice for no repre sentative. 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 col lective bargaining, no votes for a particular representative may be counted. If a ma jority of those employes voting in the election votes to participate in collective bar gaining, 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 represen tative. 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).

AB925, s. 11 Section 11. 111.83 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 111.83 (4) (a) and amended to read:

AB925,9,4 111.83 (4) (a) Whenever an election has been conducted under sub. (3) in a col lective bargaining unit specified in s. 111.825 (1) or (2) (a) to (d) in which the name of more than one proposed representative appears on the ballot and results in no con clusion, 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 repre sentative if the least number of votes cast at the first election was against representa tion by any named representative.

AB925, s. 12 Section 12. 111.83 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB925,9,16 111.83 (4) (b) Whenever an election has been conducted under sub. (3) in a col lective bargaining unit specified in s. 111.825 (2) (e) to (j) in which a majority of the employes voting indicates a desire to participate in collective bargaining but in which no named representative is favored by a majority of the employes voting, the commis sion 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 run off election, the commission shall drop from the ballot the name of the representative who received the least number of votes at the original election. In the collective bar gaining unit specified in s. 111.825 (2) (g) or (j), only the employes at those institu tions at which a majority of those employes voting in the election votes to participate in collective bargaining shall be permitted to vote in the runoff election.

AB925, s. 13 Section 13. 111.83 (5) (a) to (c), (h) and (i) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB925,9,19 111.83 (5) (a) This subsection applies only to the collective bargaining unit units specified in s. 111.825 (2) (c), (g) and (j).

AB925,9,25 (b) Upon filing of a petition with the commission indicating a showing of inter est of at least 30% of the employes at an institution who are included within a collec tive bargaining unit to be represented by a labor organization, the commission shall hold an election in which the employes in that unit at that institution may vote on the question of representation. The labor organization named in any such petition shall be included on the ballot. Within 60 days of the time that an original petition is filed, another petition may be filed with the commission indicating a showing of interest of at least 10% of the employes at the same institution who are included in the same collective bargaining unit to be represented by another labor organization, in which case the name of that labor organization shall be included on the ballot. If more than one original petition is filed within a 30-day period concerning employes in the collective bargaining unit specified in s. 111.825 (2) (c), the results of (g) or (j), all elections held pursuant to the petitions shall be announced by the commission at the same time. The ballot elections shall be held on the same day and the ballots for all of the elections shall be prepared in accordance with sub. (3), except as otherwise provided in this subsection.

AB925,10,19 (c) Notwithstanding s. 111.825 (2) (c), (g) and (j), the employes at any institution included within the collective bargaining unit at which no petition is filed and no election is held or at which the employes indicate, by a majority of those voting in an election, a desire not to participate in collective bargaining are not considered to be a part of that collective bargaining unit. In the collective bargaining units specified in s. 111.825 (2) (g) and (j), once the employes at any institution vote to participate in collective bargaining, the commission shall not determine the votes of employes on that question at that institution at a future election except in conjunction with the votes of the employes at the other institutions in the collective bargaining unit.

AB925,11,6 (h) If a petition is filed under sub. (6) for the discontinuance of existing repre sentation indicating a showing of interest by 30% of the total number of employes at all institutions at which employes in the collective bargaining unit have voted to be come a part of the unit, the commission shall hold an election on that question at all such institutions. If In the collective bargaining unit specified in s. 111.825 (2) (c), if a petition is filed under sub. (6) for the discontinuance of existing representation indicating a showing of interest by 30% of the employes at one or more, but not all, of the institutions at which employes in the collective bargaining unit have voted to become a part of the unit, the commission shall hold an election on that question only at the institution or institutions at which the showing is made. In such an election, the only question appearing on the ballot shall be whether the employes desire to participate in collective bargaining.

AB925,12,2 (i) If a petition is filed under sub. (6) for a change of existing representation, the commission shall hold an election on the question in accordance with par. (b), ex cept that participation shall be limited to employes at those institutions included in the collective bargaining unit who have previously voted to become a part of the unit. Runoff elections shall be held, as provided in par. (e), when necessary. At any such election, if a majority of the total number of employes included in the collective bar gaining unit at all institutions at which employes have voted to become a part of the unit elect not to participate in collective bargaining, regardless of the result of the vote at any single institution, no representative may be certified by the commission to represent the employes at any institution within that collective bargaining unit, unless a new petition and election is held under par. (b). However In the collective bargaining unit specified in s. 111.825 (2) (c), if a majority of the total number of em ployes included in the collective bargaining unit at all institutions at which employes have voted to become a part of the unit elect to participate in collective bargaining, but a majority of the employes at one or more of the institutions elect not to partici pate in collective bargaining, then only the employes at those institutions electing not to participate shall not be considered a part of that collective bargaining unit. In the collective bargaining unit specified in s. 111.825 (2) (g) or (j), if the employes at an institution vote to become a part of the unit, the commission shall not accept a petition for an election on the question of withdrawal from the unit.

AB925, s. 14 Section 14. 111.84 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB925,12,11 111.84 (2) (c) To refuse to bargain collectively on matters set forth in s. 111.91 (1) with the duly authorized officer or agent of the employer which is the recognized or certified exclusive collective bargaining representative of employes specified in s. 111.81 (7) (a) in an appropriate collective bargaining unit or with the certified exclu sive collective bargaining representative of employes specified in s. 111.81 (7) (b) or (c) to (e) in an appropriate collective bargaining unit. Such refusal to bargain shall include, but not be limited to, the refusal to execute a collective bargaining agree ment previously orally agreed upon.

AB925, s. 15 Section 15. 111.91 (2) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, section 3840, is amended to read:

AB925,12,15 111.91 (2) (a) The structure, mission and goals of state agencies and the Univer sity of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority as set forth in the statutes.

AB925, s. 16 Section 16. 111.91 (2) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, section 3841, and 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

AB925,12,19 111.91 (2) (a) The structure, mission and goals of state agencies as set forth in the statutes.

AB925, s. 17 Section 17. 111.91 (2) (br) of the statutes is created to read:

AB925,12,22 111.91 (2) (br) Matters affecting the rights and responsibilities of students as provided in s. 36.09 (5).

AB925, s. 18 Section 18. 111.91 (4) of the statutes is amended to read: