AB726: Bill Text

LRB-3844/1

CMH&RAC:kjf:nwn

2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE

2007 Assembly BILL 726

January 24, 2008 - Introduced by Representatives Richards, Berceau, Boyle, Colon, Hahn, Hebl, Hintz, Hixson, Kaufert, Kreuser, Musser, Pocan, Pope-Roberts, Sheridan, Sherman, Shilling, Sinicki, Smith, Soletski, Travis and Turner, cosponsored by Senators Hansen, Vinehout, Coggs, Decker, Erpenbach, Jauch, Kapanke, Lassa, Lehman, Miller, Plale, Sullivan, Taylor and Wirch. Referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities.

AB726,1,10 An Act to amend 7.33 (4), 13.111 (2), 16.50 (3) (e), 16.705 (3) (c), 19.82 (1), 19.85 (3), 19.86, 20.425 (1) (a), 20.545 (1) (a), 20.865 (1) (ci), 20.865 (1) (ic), 20.865 (1) (si), 20.917 (3) (b), 20.923 (6) (intro.), 20.928 (1), 36.09 (1) (j), 40.02 (25) (b) 8., 40.05 (1) (b), 40.05 (4) (ag) (intro.), 40.05 (4) (ar), 40.05 (4) (b), 40.05 (4) (bw), 40.05 (4g) (a) 4., 40.05 (5) (intro.), 40.05 (5) (b) 4., 40.05 (6) (a), 40.62 (2), 40.80 (3), 40.81 (3), 40.95 (1) (a) 2., 230.01 (3), 230.046 (10) (a), 230.12 (3) (e) 1., 230.35 (2d) (e), 230.35 (3) (e) 6. and 230.88 (2) (b); and to create 20.865 (1) (cm), 20.865 (1) (im), 20.865 (1) (sm) and subchapter VI of chapter 111 of the statutes; relating to: collective bargaining process for University of Wisconsin System faculty and academic staff and making appropriations.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, faculty and academic staff of the University of Wisconsin (UW) System do not have collective bargaining rights under the State Employment Labor Relations Act (SELRA). This bill provides faculty and academic staff of the UW System collective bargaining rights under state law in a manner similar to that provided other state employees under SELRA.

This bill provides all UW System academic staff and all faculty, including specifically faculty who are supervisors or managers, with the right to collectively bargain over wages, hours, and conditions of employment. Collective bargaining units are structured with separate units for faculty at each of the UW System campuses and for academic staff at each of the UW System campuses. The bill also provides that, if the employees approve by vote, any two or more units for faculty or academic staff may be combined into a single unit. Representatives for each unit are chosen by election.

Unfair labor practices for UW System academic staff and faculty collective bargaining are generally the same as those under SELRA, except that the bill specifically provides that it is not an unfair labor practice for the Board of Regents of the UW System to implement changes in salaries or conditions of employment for members of the faculty or academic staff at one UW institution and not for such persons at other UW institutions if certain conditions are met. The bill specifically authorizes fair-share and maintenance of membership agreements for UW academic staff and faculty collective bargaining, as is the case under SELRA. The bill also prohibits strikes.

Under the bill, the subjects of collective bargaining are the same as under SELRA, except that collective bargaining is prohibited on the mission and goals of the Board of Regents of the UW System; the diminution of the right of tenure provided faculty; the rights granted faculty and academic staff under current law; and academic freedom. Finally, under the bill, collective bargaining agreements covering UW faculty and academic staff must be approved by the Joint Committee on Employment Relations and adopted by the legislature.

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:

AB726, s. 1 Section 1. 7.33 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,3,3 7.33 (4) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, each local governmental unit, as defined in s. 16.97 (7), may, and each state agency shall, upon proper application under sub. (3), permit each of its employees to serve as an election official under s. 7.30 without loss of fringe benefits or seniority privileges earned for scheduled working hours during the period specified in sub. (3), without loss of pay for scheduled working hours during the period specified in sub. (3) except as provided in sub. (5), and without any other penalty. For employees who are included in a collective bargaining unit for which a representative is recognized or certified under subch. V or VI of ch. 111, this subsection shall apply unless otherwise provided in a collective bargaining agreement.

AB726, s. 2 Section 2. 13.111 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,3,7 13.111 (2) Duties. The joint committee on employment relations shall perform the functions assigned to it under subch. subchs. V and VI of ch. 111, subch. II of ch. 230 and ss. 16.53 (1) (d) 1., 20.916, 20.917, 20.923 and 40.05 (1) (b).

AB726, s. 3 Section 3. 16.50 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,3,11 16.50 (3) (e) No pay increase may be approved unless it is at the rate or within the pay ranges prescribed in the compensation plan or as provided in a collective bargaining agreement under subch. V or VI of ch. 111.

AB726, s. 4 Section 4. 16.705 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,3,14 16.705 (3) (c) Do not enter into any contract for contractual services in conflict with any collective bargaining agreement under subch. V or VI of ch. 111.

AB726, s. 5 Section 5. 19.82 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act 20, is amended to read:

AB726,3,25 19.82 (1) "Governmental body" means a state or local agency, board, commission, committee, council, department or public body corporate and politic created by constitution, statute, ordinance, rule or order; a governmental or quasi-governmental corporation except for the Bradley center sports and entertainment corporation; a local exposition district under subch. II of ch. 229; a long-term care district under s. 46.2895; or a formally constituted subunit of any of the foregoing, but excludes any such body or committee or subunit of such body which is formed for or meeting for the purpose of collective bargaining under subch. I, IV or, V, or VI of ch. 111.

AB726, s. 6 Section 6. 19.85 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,4,5 19.85 (3) Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to authorize a governmental body to consider at a meeting in closed session the final ratification or approval of a collective bargaining agreement under subch. I, IV or, V, or VI of ch. 111 which has been negotiated by such body or on its behalf.

AB726, s. 7 Section 7. 19.86 of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act 20, is amended to read:

AB726,4,13 19.86 Notice of collective bargaining negotiations. Notwithstanding s. 19.82 (1), where notice has been given by either party to a collective bargaining agreement under subch. I, IV or, V, or VI of ch. 111 to reopen such agreement at its expiration date, the employer shall give notice of such contract reopening as provided in s. 19.84 (1) (b). If the employer is not a governmental body, notice shall be given by the employer's chief officer or such person's designee.

AB726, s. 8 Section 8. 20.425 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,4,16 20.425 (1) (a) General program operations. The amounts in the schedule for the purposes provided in subchs. I, IV and, V, and VI of ch. 111 and s. 230.45 (1).

AB726, s. 9 Section 9. 20.545 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,4,21 20.545 (1) (a) General program operations. The amounts in the schedule to administer the employment relations functions and the civil service system under subch. subchs. V and VI of ch. 111 and ch. 230, to pay awards under s. 230.48 and to defray the expenses of the state employees suggestion board.

AB726, s. 10 Section 10. 20.865 (1) (ci) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,5,4 20.865 (1) (ci) Nonrepresented university system senior executive, faculty and academic pay adjustments. A sum sufficient to pay the cost of pay and related adjustments approved by the joint committee on employment relations under s. 230.12 (3) (e) for University of Wisconsin System employees under ss. 20.923 (4g), (5) and (6) (m) and 230.08 (2) (d) who are not included within a collective bargaining unit for which a representative is certified under subch. V or VI of ch. 111, as determined under s. 20.928, other than adjustments funded under par. (cj).

AB726, s. 11 Section 11. 20.865 (1) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB726,5,12 20.865 (1) (cm) Represented university faculty and academic staff pay adjustments. A sum sufficient to supplement the appropriations to the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System for the cost of compensation and related adjustments approved by the legislature under s. 111.9991 for University of Wisconsin System employees under s. 230.08 (2) (d) who are included within a collective bargaining unit for which a representative is certified under subch. VI of ch. 111, as determined under s. 20.928.

AB726, s. 12 Section 12. 20.865 (1) (ic) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,5,22 20.865 (1) (ic) Nonrepresented university system senior executive, faculty and academic pay adjustments. From the appropriate program revenue and program revenue-service accounts, a sum sufficient to supplement the appropriations to the University of Wisconsin System to pay the cost of pay and related adjustments approved by the joint committee on employment relations under s. 230.12 (3) (e) for University of Wisconsin System employees under ss. 20.923 (4g), (5) and (6) (m) and 230.08 (2) (d) who are not included within a collective bargaining unit for which a representative is certified under subch. V or VI of ch. 111, as determined under s. 20.928, other than adjustments funded under par. (cj).

AB726, s. 13 Section 13. 20.865 (1) (im) of the statutes is created to read:

AB726,6,6 20.865 (1) (im) Represented university system faculty and academic staff pay adjustments; program revenue. From the appropriate program revenue and program revenue-service accounts, a sum sufficient to supplement the appropriations to the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System for the cost of compensation and related adjustments approved by the joint committee on employment relations under s. 230.12 (3) (e) for University of Wisconsin System employees under s. 230.08 (2) (d) who are included within a collective bargaining unit for which a representative is certified under subch. VI of ch. 111, as determined under s. 20.928.

AB726, s. 14 Section 14. 20.865 (1) (si) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,6,15 20.865 (1) (si) Nonrepresented university system senior executive, faculty and academic pay adjustments. From the appropriate segregated funds, a sum sufficient to supplement the appropriations to the University of Wisconsin System to pay the cost of pay and related adjustments approved by the joint committee on employment relations under s. 230.12 (3) (e) for University of Wisconsin System employees under ss. 20.923 (4g), (5) and (6) (m) and 230.08 (2) (d) who are not included within a collective bargaining unit for which a representative is certified under subch. V or VI of ch. 111, as determined under s. 20.928.

AB726, s. 15 Section 15. 20.865 (1) (sm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB726,6,24 20.865 (1) (sm) Represented university faculty and academic staff pay adjustments; segregated revenues. From the appropriate segregated funds, a sum sufficient to supplement the appropriations to the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System for the cost of compensation and related adjustments approved by the joint committee on employment relations under s. 230.12 (3) (e) for University of Wisconsin System employees under s. 230.08 (2) (d) who are included within a collective bargaining unit for which a representative is certified under subch. VI of ch. 111, as determined under s. 20.928.

AB726, s. 16 Section 16. 20.917 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,7,4 20.917 (3) (b) This subsection applies to employees in all positions in the civil service, including those employees in positions included in collective bargaining units under subch. V or VI of ch. 111, whether or not the employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

AB726, s. 17 Section 17. 20.923 (6) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,7,10 20.923 (6) Salaries set by appointing authorities. (intro.) Salaries for the following positions may be set by the appointing authority, subject to restrictions otherwise set forth in the statutes and the compensation plan under s. 230.12, except where the salaries are a subject of bargaining with a certified representative of a collective bargaining unit under s. 111.91 or 111.998:

AB726, s. 18 Section 18. 20.928 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,7,18 20.928 (1) Each state agency head shall certify to the department of administration, at such time and in such manner as the secretary of administration prescribes, the sum of money needed by the state agency from the appropriations under s. 20.865 (1) (c), (ci), (cm), (cj), (d), (i), (ic), (im), (j), (s), (si), (sm), and (t). Upon receipt of the certifications together with such additional information as the secretary of administration prescribes, the secretary shall determine the amounts required from the respective appropriations to supplement state agency budgets.

AB726, s. 19 Section 19. 36.09 (1) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,8,24 36.09 (1) (j) Except where such matters are a subject of bargaining with a certified representative of a collective bargaining unit under s. 111.91 or 111.998, the board shall establish salaries for persons not in the classified staff prior to July 1 of each year for the next fiscal year, and shall designate the effective dates for payment of the new salaries. In the first year of the biennium, payments of the salaries established for the preceding year shall be continued until the biennial budget bill is enacted. If the budget is enacted after July 1, payments shall be made following enactment of the budget to satisfy the obligations incurred on the effective dates, as designated by the board, for the new salaries, subject only to the appropriation of funds by the legislature and s. 20.928 (3). This paragraph does not limit the authority of the board to establish salaries for new appointments. The board may not increase the salaries of employees specified in ss. 20.923 (5) and (6) (m) and 230.08 (2) (d) under this paragraph unless the salary increase conforms to the proposal as approved under s. 230.12 (3) (e) or the board authorizes the salary increase to correct salary inequities under par. (h), to fund job reclassifications or promotions, or to recognize competitive factors. The board may not increase the salary of any position identified in s. 20.923 (4g) under this paragraph unless the salary increase conforms to the proposal as approved under s. 230.12 (3) (e) or the board authorizes the salary increase to correct a salary inequity or to recognize competitive factors. The board may not increase the salary of any position identified in s. 20.923 (4g) (ae) and (am) to correct a salary inequity that results from the appointment of a person to a position identified in s. 20.923 (4g) (ae) and (am) unless the increase is approved by the office of state employment relations. The granting of salary increases to recognize competitive factors does not obligate inclusion of the annualized amount of the increases in the appropriations under s. 20.285 (1) for subsequent fiscal bienniums. No later than October 1 of each year, the board shall report to the joint committee on finance and the secretary of administration and director of the office of state employment relations concerning the amounts of any salary increases granted to recognize competitive factors, and the institutions at which they are granted, for the 12-month period ending on the preceding June 30.

AB726, s. 20 Section 20. 40.02 (25) (b) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,9,3 40.02 (25) (b) 8. Any other state employee for whom coverage is authorized under a collective bargaining agreement pursuant to subch. I or, V, or VI of ch. 111 or under s. 230.12 or 233.10.

AB726, s. 21 Section 21. 40.05 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,9,25 40.05 (1) (b) In lieu of employee payment, the employer may pay all or part of the contributions required by par. (a), but all the payments shall be available for benefit purposes to the same extent as required contributions deducted from earnings of the participating employees. Action to assume employee contributions as provided under this paragraph shall be taken at the time and in the form determined by the governing body of the participating employer. The state shall pay under this paragraph for employees who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement under subch. V or VI of ch. 111 and for employees whose fringe benefits are determined under s. 230.12 an amount equal to 4% 4 percent of the earnings paid by the state unless otherwise provided in a collective bargaining agreement under subch. V or VI of ch. 111 or unless otherwise determined under s. 230.12. The University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority shall pay under this paragraph for employees who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement under subch. I of ch. 111 and for employees whose fringe benefits are determined under s. 233.10 an amount equal to 4% 4 percent of the earnings paid by the authority unless otherwise provided in a collective bargaining agreement under subch. I of ch. 111 or unless otherwise determined under s. 233.10. The state shall pay under this paragraph for employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement under subch. V or VI of ch. 111 and for employees whose fringe benefits are not determined under s. 230.12 an amount equal to 4% 4 percent of the earnings paid by the state unless a different amount is recommended by the director of the office of state employment relations and approved by the joint committee on employment relations in the manner provided for approval of changes in the compensation plan under s. 230.12 (3). The University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority shall pay under this paragraph for its employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement under subch. I of ch. 111 an amount equal to 4% 4 percent of the earnings paid by the authority unless a different amount is established by the board of directors of the authority under s. 233.10.

AB726, s. 22 Section 22. 40.05 (4) (ag) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,10,12 40.05 (4) (ag) (intro.) Beginning on January 1, 2004, except as otherwise provided in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement under subch. I or, V, or VI of ch. 111 or s. 230.12 or 233.10, the employer shall pay for its currently employed insured employees:

AB726, s. 23 Section 23. 40.05 (4) (ar) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,10,21 40.05 (4) (ar) The employer shall pay under par. (a) for employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement under subch. I or, V, or VI of ch. 111 and for employees whose health insurance premium contribution rates are not determined under s. 230.12 or 233.10 an amount equal to the amount specified in par. (ag) unless a different amount is recommended by the director of the office of state employment relations and approved by the joint committee on employment relations in the manner provided for approval of changes in the compensation plan under s. 230.12 (3).

AB726, s. 24 Section 24. 40.05 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,12,5 40.05 (4) (b) Except as provided under pars. (bc) and (bp), accumulated unused sick leave under ss. 13.121 (4), 36.30, 230.35 (2), 233.10, and 757.02 (5) and subch. I or, V, or VI of ch. 111 of any eligible employee shall, at the time of death, upon qualifying for an immediate annuity or for a lump sum payment under s. 40.25 (1) or upon termination of creditable service and qualifying as an eligible employee under s. 40.02 (25) (b) 6. or 10., be converted, at the employee's highest basic pay rate he or she received while employed by the state, to credits for payment of health insurance premiums on behalf of the employee or the employee's surviving insured dependents. Any supplemental compensation that is paid to a state employee who is classified under the state classified civil service as a teacher, teacher supervisor, or education director for the employee's completion of educational courses that have been approved by the employee's employer is considered as part of the employee's basic pay for purposes of this paragraph. The full premium for any eligible employee who is insured at the time of retirement, or for the surviving insured dependents of an eligible employee who is deceased, shall be deducted from the credits until the credits are exhausted and paid from the account under s. 40.04 (10), and then deducted from annuity payments, if the annuity is sufficient. The department shall provide for the direct payment of premiums by the insured to the insurer if the premium to be withheld exceeds the annuity payment. Upon conversion of an employee's unused sick leave to credits under this paragraph or par. (bf), the employee or, if the employee is deceased, the employee's surviving insured dependents may initiate deductions from those credits or may elect to delay initiation of deductions from those credits, but only if the employee or surviving insured dependents are covered by a comparable health insurance plan or policy during the period beginning on the date of the conversion and ending on the date on which the employee or surviving insured dependents later elect to initiate deductions from those credits. If an employee or an employee's surviving insured dependents elect to delay initiation of deductions from those credits, an employee or the employee's surviving insured dependents may only later elect to initiate deductions from those credits during the annual enrollment period under par. (be). A health insurance plan or policy is considered comparable if it provides hospital and medical benefits that are substantially equivalent to the standard health insurance plan established under s. 40.52 (1).

AB726, s. 25 Section 25. 40.05 (4) (bw) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,12,17 40.05 (4) (bw) On converting accumulated unused sick leave to credits for the payment of health insurance premiums under par. (b), the department shall add additional credits, calculated in the same manner as are credits under par. (b), that are based on a state employee's accumulated sabbatical leave or earned vacation leave from the state employee's last year of service prior to retirement, or both. The department shall apply the credits awarded under this paragraph for the payment of health insurance premiums only after the credits awarded under par. (b) are exhausted. This paragraph applies only to state employees who are eligible for accumulated unused sick leave conversion under par. (b) and who are entitled to the benefits under this paragraph pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement under subch. V or VI of ch. 111.

AB726, s. 26 Section 26. 40.05 (4g) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,12,23 40.05 (4g) (a) 4. Has received a military leave of absence under s. 230.32 (3) (a) or 230.35 (3), under a collective bargaining agreement under subch. V or VI of ch. 111 or under rules promulgated by the director of the office of state employment relations or is eligible for reemployment with the state under s. 21.79 after completion of his or her service in the U.S. armed forces.

AB726, s. 27 Section 27. 40.05 (5) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,13,5 40.05 (5) Income continuation insurance premiums. (intro.) For the income continuation insurance provided under subch. V the employee shall pay the amount remaining after the employer has contributed the following or, if different, the amount determined under a collective bargaining agreement under subch. I or, V, or VI of ch. 111 or s. 230.12 or 233.10:

AB726, s. 28 Section 28. 40.05 (5) (b) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,13,9 40.05 (5) (b) 4. The accrual and crediting of sick leave shall be determined in accordance with ss. 13.121 (4), 36.30, 230.35 (2), 233.10 and 757.02 (5) and subch. I or, V, or VI of ch. 111.

AB726, s. 29 Section 29. 40.05 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,13,18 40.05 (6) (a) Except as otherwise provided in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement under subch. I or, V, or VI of ch. 111 or s. 230.12 or 233.10, each insured employee under the age of 70 and annuitant under the age of 65 shall pay for group life insurance coverage a sum, approved by the group insurance board, which shall not exceed 60 cents monthly for each $1,000 of group life insurance, based upon the last amount of insurance in force during the month for which earnings are paid. The equivalent premium may be fixed by the group insurance board if the annual compensation is paid in other than 12 monthly installments.

AB726, s. 30 Section 30. 40.62 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB726,13,22 40.62 (2) Sick leave accumulation shall be determined in accordance with rules of the department, any collective bargaining agreement under subch. I or, V, or VI of ch. 111, and ss. 13.121 (4), 36.30, 230.35 (2), 233.10, 757.02 (5) and 978.12 (3).