Chapter 111

111.39(5) (5) 

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, an employer with whom the labor organization has an enforceable all-union agreement shall not be held accountable under this chapter if the employer is not responsible for the discrimination, the unfair honesty testing, or the unfair genetic testing.

111.39 History History: 1973 c. 268; 1977 c. 29, 196; 1979 c. 221, 319, 355; 1981 c. 334 ss. 20, 25 (2); Stats. 1981 s. 111.39; 1983 a. 122; 1989 a. 228; 1991 a. 117; 1995 a. 27; 2009 a. 20; 2011 a. 219; 2015 a. 1.

111.39 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also LIRC and ch. DWD 218, Wis. adm. code.

111.39 Annotation A Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations order that was broader in scope than the nature of the discrimination set forth in the notice of hearing was overbroad. Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. v. DILHR, 62 Wis. 2d 392, 215 N.W.2d 443 (1972).

111.39 Annotation An employer found to have discriminated against a female employee with respect to required length of pregnancy leave and applicable employee benefits was denied adequate notice of the leave benefits issue prior to hearing as required by s. 111.36 (3) (a) [now sub. (4) (b)] and former s. 227.09, 1971 stats., because: 1) the notice received by the employer merely charged “an act of discrimination due to sex;” 2) the complaint specified the discriminatory act as the refusal to rehire the employee as soon as she was able to return to work; 3) the Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations characterized the complaint as involving only length of the required leave; and 4) the discriminatory aspects of the required pregnancy leave and applicable benefits constituted separate legal issues. Wisconsin Telephone Co. v. DILHR, 68 Wis. 2d 345, 228 N.W.2d 649 (1975).

111.39 Annotation A court should not use ch. 227 or s. 752.35 to circumvent the policy under s. 111.36 (3m) (c) [now sub. (5) (c)] that proceedings before the commission are not to be reopened more than one year after entry of a final decision. Chicago & North Western Railroad v. LIRC, 91 Wis. 2d 462, 283 N.W.2d 603 (Ct. App. 1979).

111.39 Annotation A valid offer of reinstatement terminates the accrual of back pay. To constitute a valid offer of reinstatement: 1) the offer must be for the same position or a substantially equivalent position; 2) the offer must be unconditional; 3) the employee must be afforded a reasonable time to respond to the offer; and 4) the offer should come directly from the employer or its agent who is authorized to hire and fire, rather than from another employee or other unauthorized individual. Anderson v. LIRC, 111 Wis. 2d 245, 330 N.W.2d 594 (1983).

111.39 Annotation Prejudgment interest should be included in back pay awards. Anderson v. LIRC, 111 Wis. 2d 245, 330 N.W.2d 594 (1983).

111.39 Annotation Sub. (1) is a statute of limitations. As such it is an affirmative defense that may be waived. County of Milwaukee v. LIRC, 113 Wis. 2d 199, 335 N.W.2d 412 (Ct. App. 1983).

111.39 Annotation Under s. 111.36 (3) (b) [now sub. (4) (c)], the Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations may award attorney’s fees to a prevailing complainant. Watkins v. LIRC, 117 Wis. 2d 753, 345 N.W.2d 482 (1984).

111.39 Annotation Under sub. (1), “filing” does not occur until the complaint is received by the Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations, and when discrimination “occurred” in termination cases is the date of notice of termination. Hilmes v. DILHR, 147 Wis. 2d 48, 433 N.W.2d 251 (Ct. App. 1988).

111.39 Annotation The Wisconsin Personnel Commission may not award costs and attorney’s fees for discovery motions filed against the state under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act. DOT v. Wisconsin Personnel Commission, 176 Wis. 2d 731, 500 N.W.2d 664 (1993).

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 Wis. 2d 1012, 501 N.W.2d 391 (1993).

111.39 Annotation Evidence of acts occurring outside of 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 Wis. 2d 309, 557 N.W.2d 419 (Ct. App. 1996), 96-1119.

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 Wis. 2d 523, 561 N.W.2d 756 (Ct. App. 1997), 96-2055.

111.39 Annotation Abbyland, 206 Wis. 2d 309 (1996), clearly held that compensation discrimination is actionable if an employee received payment within the 300-day period before filing the employee’s complaint pursuant to a discriminatory compensation decision. It does not matter that the discriminatory compensation decision was made before the 300-day period, nor does it matter when the employee became aware of the discrimination. Rice Lake Harley Davidson v. LIRC, 2014 WI App 104, 357 Wis. 2d 621, 855 N.W.2d 882, 14-0013.

111.39 Annotation A prevailing complainant is entitled to reasonable attorney fees under this subchapter. A plaintiff is a prevailing party if the plaintiff succeeds on any significant issue in litigation that achieves some of the benefit the plaintiff sought in bringing suit. That the award of fees must be reasonable did not mean that because the complainant in this case received less than ten percent of the back pay she requested, she was entitled to only ten percent of the attorney fees she requested. Rice Lake Harley Davidson v. LIRC, 2014 WI App 104, 357 Wis. 2d 621, 855 N.W.2d 882, 14-0013.

111.39 Annotation Under sub. (5) (b), when a party seeks review of an administrative law judge’s (ALJ) findings or order, the Labor and Industry Review Commission (LIRC) is not bound by the ALJ’s decision. The reviewing court cannot ignore and jump over the findings of LIRC to reach those of the ALJ that were set aside. The role of the court on appeal is to search the record for evidence supporting LIRC’s factual determinations, not to search for evidence against them. Robles v. Thomas Hribar Truck & Equipment, Inc., 2020 WI App 74, 394 Wis. 2d 761, 951 N.W.2d 853, 19-1412.

111.39 Annotation In Wisconsin, the general rule is that when an agency acting as an appeal tribunal—here, the Labor and Industry Review Commission (LIRC)—diverges from the hearing examiner—the administrative law judge (ALJ)—as to material findings of facts based on witness credibility, LIRC must hold a credibility conference in order to obtain the ALJ’s impressions concerning the witnesses’ demeanor and credibility. When credibility of witnesses is at issue, it is a denial of due process if the administrative agency making a fact determination does not have the benefit of the findings, conclusions, and impressions of the testimony of each hearing officer who conducted any part of the hearing. LIRC is required to provide an explanation for its disagreement with the ALJ in its memorandum opinion. Robles v. Thomas Hribar Truck & Equipment, Inc., 2020 WI App 74, 394 Wis. 2d 761, 951 N.W.2d 853, 19-1412.

111.39 Annotation Although it is within the Labor and Industry Review Commission’s discretion to award back pay, the availability of back pay is not unlimited. A discharged employee is expected to mitigate the employee’s damages during the period of unemployment, and the award of back pay shall be reduced for interim earnings or amounts earnable with reasonable diligence. It is the employer’s burden to prove that an employee failed to exercise reasonable diligence in mitigating damages. Wingra Redi-Mix Inc. v. LIRC, 2023 WI App 34, 408 Wis. 2d 563, 993 N.W.2d 715, 21-2028.

111.39 Annotation A proposed rule that would prohibit departmental employees from making public any information obtained under s. 111.36 [now this section] 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. Discussing the open meetings law [now ss. 19.81 to 19.98]. 60 Atty. Gen. 43.

111.39 Annotation The department may proceed in a matter despite a settlement between the parties if the agreement does not eliminate the discrimination. The department may approve a settlement between the parties that does not provide full back pay if the agreement will eliminate the unlawful practice or act. 66 Atty. Gen. 28.

111.39 Annotation Under Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act, to establish constructive discharge, the plaintiff must show that an abusive working environment became so intolerable that resignation qualified as a fitting response. Unless the plaintiff quits in reasonable response to an employer-sanctioned adverse action officially changing his or her employment status, an employer may defend against a claim by showing that: 1) it had installed an accessible and effective policy for reporting and resolving sexual harassment complaints; and 2) the plaintiff unreasonably failed to use that preventive or remedial apparatus. Pennsylvania State Police v. Suders, 542 U.S. 129, 124 S. Ct. 2342, 159 L. Ed. 2d 204 (2004).

111.39 Annotation Sex Discrimination Law: Old Problems, New Scrutiny. Larson & Tutwiler. Wis. Law. Apr. 2020.

111.39 Annotation Employment Termination: Computing Economic Losses. Baum. Wis. Law. Sept. 2020.

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.

subch. III of ch. 111 SUBCHAPTER III

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 employees 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 employees, and to provide settlement procedures for labor disputes between public utility employers and their employees 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 The application of the open meetings law to duties of WERC is 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) (5) 

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 employees.

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 employees 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 employees, the collective bargaining process reaches an impasse and stalemate, with the result that the employer and the employees 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 employees 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) 

111.57(3)(a) (a) If there is no contract between the parties, or if 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 all of the following:

111.57(3)(a)1. 1. 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)(a)2. 2. A 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)(a)3. 3. The value of the service to the consumer in the local operating area involved.

111.57(3)(a)4. 4. The overall compensation presently received by the employees, 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 employees.

111.57(3)(d) (d) In addition to considering the factors under par. (a), if a public utility employer has more than one plant or office and some or all of the employer’s 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 a schedule of wage rates and separate conditions of employment for plants and offices in different areas.

111.57(3)(e) (e) The enumeration of factors under pars. (a) and (d) shall not be construed as precluding the arbitrator from taking into consideration other factors not confined to the local labor market area that 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.

111.57 History History: 1999 a. 83; 2001 a. 103.

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 employees 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 employees 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 employees 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 employees 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.

111.64 111.64 Construction.

111.64(1) (1) Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to require any individual employee to render labor or service without the employee’s consent, or to make illegal the quitting of the employee’s labor or service or the withdrawal from the employee’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 employee to render labor or service or to remain at the employee’s place of employment without the employee’s consent. It is the intent of this subchapter only to forbid employees 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 employees, 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.