AB726: Bill Text

AB726,14,13 University of Wisconsin system faculty and academic staff labor relations

AB726,14,17 111.95 Declaration of policy. The public policy of the state as to labor relations and collective bargaining involving faculty and academic staff at the University of Wisconsin System, in furtherance of which this subchapter is enacted, is as follows:

AB726,14,20 (1) The people of the state of Wisconsin have a fundamental interest in developing harmonious and cooperative labor relations within the University of Wisconsin System.

AB726,14,24 (2) It recognizes that there are 3 major interests involved: that of the public, that of the employee, and that of the employer. These 3 interests are to a considerable extent interrelated. It is the policy of this state to protect and promote each of these interests with due regard to the rights of the others.

AB726,14,25 111.96 Definitions. In this subchapter:

AB726,15,3 (1) "Academic staff" has the meaning given under s. 36.05 (1), but does not include any individual holding an appointment under s. 36.13 or 36.15 (2m) or who is appointed to a visiting faculty position.

AB726,15,4 (2) "Board" means the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

AB726,15,12 (3) "Collective bargaining" means the performance of the mutual obligation of the state as an employer, by its officers and agents, and the representatives of its employees, to meet and confer at reasonable times, in good faith, with respect to the subjects of bargaining provided in s. 111.998 with the intention of reaching an agreement, or to resolve questions arising under such an agreement. 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.

AB726,15,13 (4) "Collective bargaining unit" means a unit established under s. 111.98 (1).

AB726,15,14 (5) "Commission" means the employment relations commission.

AB726,15,17 (6) "Election" means a proceeding conducted by the commission in which the employees in a collective bargaining unit cast a secret ballot for collective bargaining representatives, or for any other purpose specified in this subchapter.

AB726,15,18 (7) "Employee" includes:

AB726,15,21 (a) All faculty, including specifically faculty who are supervisors or management employees, but not including faculty holding a limited appointment under s. 36.17 or deans.

AB726,15,24 (b) All academic staff, except for supervisors, management employees, and individuals who are privy to confidential matters affecting the employer-employee relationship.

AB726,15,25 (8) "Employer" means the state of Wisconsin.

AB726,16,2 (9) "Faculty" has the meaning given in s. 36.05 (8), except for an individual holding an appointment under s. 36.15 (1), (2), (2m), or (3).

AB726,16,7 (10) "Fair-share agreement" means an agreement between the employer and a labor organization representing employees under which all of the employees in a collective bargaining unit are required to pay their proportionate share of the cost of the collective bargaining process and contract administration measured by the amount of dues uniformly required of all members.

AB726,16,8 (11) "Institution" has the meaning given in s. 36.05 (9).

AB726,16,10 (12) "Labor dispute" means any controversy with respect to the subjects of bargaining provided in this subchapter.

AB726,16,14 (13) "Labor organization" means any employee organization whose purpose is to represent employees in collective bargaining with the employer, or its agents, on matters pertaining to terms and conditions of employment, but does not include any organization that does any of the following:

AB726,16,16 (a) Advocates the overthrow of the constitutional form of government in the United States.

AB726,16,18 (b) Discriminates with regard to the terms or conditions of membership because of race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, or national origin.

AB726,16,25 (14) "Maintenance of membership agreement" means an agreement between the employer and a labor organization representing employees that requires that all of the employees whose dues are being deducted from earnings under s. 20.921 (1) or 111.992 at or after the time the agreement takes effect shall continue to have dues deducted for the duration of the agreement and that dues shall be deducted from the earnings of all employees who are hired on or after the effective date of the agreement.

AB726,17,2 (15) "Management employees" include those personnel engaged predominately in executive and managerial functions.

AB726,17,4 (16) "Office" means the office of state employment relations in the department of administration.

AB726,17,9 (17) "Referendum" means a proceeding conducted by the commission in which employees, or supervisors specified in s. 111.98 (5), in a collective bargaining unit may cast a secret ballot on the question of directing the labor organization and the employer to enter into a fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement or to terminate such an agreement.

AB726,17,11 (18) "Representative" includes any person chosen by an employee to represent the employee.

AB726,17,15 (19) "Strike" includes any strike or other concerted stoppage of work by employees, any concerted slowdown or other concerted interruption of operations or services by employees, or any concerted refusal to work or perform their usual duties as employees of the state.

AB726,17,21 (20) "Supervisor" means any individual whose principal work is different from that of the individual's subordinates and who has authority, in the interest of the employer, to hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward or discipline employees, or to adjust their grievances, or to authoritatively recommend such action, if the individual's exercise of such authority is not of a merely routine or clerical nature, but requires the use of independent judgment.

AB726,17,23 (21) "Unfair labor practice" means any unfair labor practice specified in s. 111.991.

AB726,18,7 111.965 Duties of the state. (1) In the furtherance of this subchapter, the state shall be considered as a single employer. The board shall negotiate and administer collective bargaining agreements. To coordinate the employer position in the negotiation of agreements, the board shall maintain close liaison with the legislature and the office relative to the negotiation of agreements and the fiscal ramifications of those agreements. The board shall coordinate its collective bargaining activities with the office. The legislative branch shall act upon those portions of tentative agreements negotiated by the board that require legislative action.

AB726,18,10 (2) The board shall establish a collective bargaining capacity and shall represent the state in its responsibility as an employer under this subchapter. The board shall coordinate its actions with the director of the office.

AB726,18,16 111.97 Rights of employees. Employees shall have the right of self-organization and the right to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing under this subchapter, and to engage in lawful, concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. Employees shall also have the right to refrain from any such activities.

AB726,18,19 111.98 Collective bargaining units. (1) Collective bargaining units for faculty and staff in the unclassified service of the state shall be structured with a collective bargaining unit for each of the following groups:

AB726,18,20 (a) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

AB726,18,21 (am) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

AB726,18,22 (b) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

AB726,18,23 (bm) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

AB726,18,24 (c) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

AB726,18,25 (cm) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

AB726,19,1 (d) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

AB726,19,2 (dm) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

AB726,19,3 (e) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

AB726,19,4 (em) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

AB726,19,5 (f) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

AB726,19,6 (fm) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

AB726,19,7 (g) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

AB726,19,8 (gm) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

AB726,19,9 (h) Faculty of the University of Wisconsin Colleges.

AB726,19,10 (i) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

AB726,19,11 (im) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

AB726,19,12 (j) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

AB726,19,13 (jm) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

AB726,19,14 (k) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

AB726,19,15 (km) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

AB726,19,16 (L) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

AB726,19,17 (Lm) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

AB726,19,18 (m) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

AB726,19,19 (mm) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

AB726,19,20 (n) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

AB726,19,21 (nm) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

AB726,19,22 (o) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

AB726,19,23 (op) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

AB726,19,24 (p) Academic staff of the University of Wisconsin Colleges.

AB726,20,13 (2) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (1), 2 or more collective bargaining units described under sub. (1) (a) to (p) 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 percent of the employees in each unit, hold an election to determine whether a majority of those employees voting in each unit desire to combine into a single unit. A combined collective bargaining unit shall be formed including all employees from each of those units in which a majority of the employees voting in the election approve 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.

AB726,21,2 (b) If 2 or more collective bargaining units have combined under par. (a), the commission shall, upon petition of at least 30 percent of the employees in any of the original units, hold an election of the employees in the original unit to determine whether the employees in that unit desire to withdraw from the combined collective bargaining unit. If a majority of the employees voting desire 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. While there is a collective bargaining agreement in force for the combined collective bargaining unit, a petition for an election under this paragraph may be filed only during October in the calendar year prior to the expiration of the agreement.

AB726,21,4 (3) The commission shall assign employees to the appropriate collective bargaining units described under sub. (1) or (2).

AB726,21,12 (4) Any labor organization may petition for recognition as the exclusive representative of a collective bargaining unit described under sub. (1) or (2) in accordance with the election procedures under s. 111.990 if the petition is accompanied by a 30 percent showing of interest in the form of signed authorization cards. Any additional labor organization seeking to appear on the ballot shall file a petition within 60 days of the date of filing of the original petition and prove, through signed authorization cards, that at least 10 percent of the employees in the collective bargaining unit want it to be their representative.

AB726,21,21 (5) Although academic staff supervisors are not considered employees for the purpose of this subchapter, the commission may consider a petition for a statewide collective bargaining unit consisting of academic staff supervisors, but the representative of the supervisors may not be affiliated with any labor organization representing employees. For purposes of this subsection, affiliation does not include membership in a national, state, county, or municipal federation of national or international labor organizations. The certified representative of the supervisors may not bargain collectively with respect to any matter other than wages and fringe benefits.

AB726,22,7 111.990 Representatives and elections. (1) A representative chosen for the purposes of collective bargaining by a majority of the employees voting in a collective bargaining unit shall be the exclusive representative of all of the employees in such unit for the purposes of collective bargaining. Any individual employee, or any minority group of employees in any collective bargaining unit, may present any grievance to the employer in person, or through representatives of their own choosing, and the employer shall confer with the individual employee or group of employees with respect to the grievance if the majority representative has been afforded the opportunity to be present at the conference. Any adjustment resulting from such a conference may not be inconsistent with the conditions of employment established by the majority representative and the employer.

AB726,23,9 (2) Whenever a question arises concerning the representation of employees in a collective bargaining unit, the commission shall determine the representation by taking a secret ballot of the employees and certifying in writing the results to the interested parties and to the board. There shall be included on any ballot for the election of representatives the names of all labor organizations having an interest in representing the employees 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 a collective bargaining unit composed of employees 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 employees of the ... (name of collective bargaining unit) participate in collective bargaining?". The 2nd question shall be: "If the employees 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 employees?". The 2nd question shall not include a choice for no representative. All employees in the collective bargaining unit may vote on both questions. Unless a majority of those employees voting in the election vote to participate in collective bargaining, no votes for a particular representative may be counted. If a majority of those employees voting in the election vote to participate in collective bargaining, the ballots for representatives shall be counted. 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).

AB726,23,16 (3) Whenever an election has been conducted under sub. (2) in which a majority of the employees voting indicate a desire to participate in collective bargaining but in which no named representative is favored by a majority of the employees voting, the commission may, if requested by a 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.

AB726,24,4 (4) While a collective bargaining agreement between a labor organization and an employer is in force under this subchapter, a petition for an election in the collective bargaining unit to which the agreement applies may only be filed during October in the calendar year prior to the expiration of that agreement. An election held under that petition may be held only if the petition is supported by proof that at least 30 percent of the employees in the collective bargaining unit desire a change or discontinuance of existing representation. Within 60 days of the time that an original petition is filed, another petition may be filed supported by proof that at least 10 percent of the employees in the same collective bargaining unit desire a different representative. If a majority of the employees in the collective bargaining unit vote for a change or discontinuance of representation by any named representative, the decision takes effect upon expiration of any existing collective bargaining agreement between the employer and the existing representative.

AB726,24,6 111.991 Unfair labor practices. (1) It is an unfair labor practice for an employer individually or in concert with others:

AB726,24,8 (a) To interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of their rights guaranteed under s. 111.97.

AB726,24,21 (b) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, to initiate, create, dominate, or interfere with the formation or administration of any labor or employee organization or contribute financial support to it. Except as provided in ss. 40.02 (22) (e) and 40.23 (1) (f) 4., no change in any law affecting the Wisconsin Retirement System under ch. 40 and no action by the employer that is authorized by such a law is a violation of this paragraph unless an applicable collective bargaining agreement specifically prohibits the change or action. No such change or action affects the continuing duty to bargain collectively regarding the Wisconsin Retirement System under ch. 40 to the extent required by s. 111.998. It is not an unfair labor practice for the employer to reimburse an employee at his or her prevailing wage rate for the time spent during the employee's regularly scheduled hours conferring with the employer's officers or agents and for attendance at commission or court hearings necessary for the administration of this subchapter.

AB726,24,25 (c) To encourage or discourage membership in any labor organization by discrimination in regard to hiring, tenure, or other terms or conditions of employment. This paragraph does not apply to fair-share or maintenance of membership agreements.

AB726,25,10 (d) To refuse to bargain collectively on matters set forth in s. 111.998 with a representative of a majority of its employees in an appropriate collective bargaining unit. Whenever the employer has a good faith doubt as to whether a labor organization claiming the support of a majority of its employees in an appropriate collective bargaining unit does in fact have that support, it may file with the commission a petition requesting an election as to that claim. The employer is not considered to have refused to bargain until an election has been held and the results of the election are certified to the employer by the commission. A violation of this paragraph includes the refusal to execute a collective bargaining agreement previously orally agreed upon.

AB726,25,15 (e) To violate any collective bargaining agreement previously agreed upon by the parties with respect to wages, hours, and conditions of employment affecting the employees, including an agreement to arbitrate or to accept the terms of an arbitration award, when previously the parties have agreed to accept such award as final and binding upon them.

AB726,25,23 (f) To deduct labor organization dues from an employee's earnings, unless the employer has been presented with an individual order therefor, signed by the employee personally, and terminable by at least the end of any year of its life or earlier by the employee giving at least 30 but not more than 120 days written notice of such termination to the employer and to the representative labor organization, except if there is a fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement in effect. The employer shall give notice to the labor organization of receipt of such notice of termination.

AB726,26,5 (1m) Notwithstanding sub. (1), it is not an unfair labor practice for the board to implement changes in salaries or conditions of employment for members of the faculty or academic staff at one institution, and not for other members of the faculty or academic staff at another institution, but this may be done only if the differential treatment is based on comparisons with the compensation and working conditions of employees performing similar services for comparable higher education institutions or based upon other competitive factors.

AB726,26,6 (2) It is unfair practice for an employee individually or in concert with others:

AB726,26,8 (a) To coerce or intimidate an employee in the enjoyment of the employee's legal rights, including those guaranteed under s. 111.97.

AB726,26,13 (b) To coerce, intimidate, or induce any officer or agent of the employer to interfere with any of the employer's employees in the enjoyment of their legal rights including those guaranteed under s. 111.97 or to engage in any practice with regard to its employees which would constitute an unfair labor practice if undertaken by the officer or agent on the officer's or agent's own initiative.

AB726,26,18 (c) To refuse to bargain collectively on matters specified in s. 111.998 with the authorized officer or agent of the employer that is the recognized or certified exclusive collective bargaining representative of employees specified in s. 111.96 (8) in an appropriate collective bargaining unit. Such refusal to bargain shall include a refusal to execute a collective bargaining agreement previously orally agreed upon.

AB726,26,22 (d) To violate the provisions of any written agreement with respect to terms and conditions of employment affecting employees, including an agreement to arbitrate or to accept the terms of an arbitration award, when previously the parties have agreed to accept such awards as final and binding upon them.

AB726,26,24 (e) To engage in, induce, or encourage any employees to engage in a strike or a concerted refusal to work or perform their usual duties as employees.

AB726,27,4 (f) To coerce or intimidate a supervisory employee, officer, or agent of the employer, working at the same trade or profession as the employer's employees, to induce the person to become a member of or act in concert with the labor organization of which the employee is a member

AB726,27,8 (3) It is an unfair labor practice for any person to do or cause to be done on behalf of or in the interest of employers or employees, or in connection with or to influence the outcome of any controversy as to employment relations, any act prohibited by subs. (1) and (2).