111.80(3)
(3) Where permitted under this subchapter, negotiations of terms and conditions of state employment should result from voluntary agreement between the state and its agents as employer, and its employes. For that purpose an employe may, if the employe desires, associate with others in organizing and in bargaining collectively through representatives of the employe's own choosing without intimidations or coercion from any source.
111.80(4)
(4) It is the policy of this state, in order to preserve and promote the interests of the public, the employe and the employer alike, to encourage the practices and procedures of collective bargaining in state employment subject to the requirements of the public service and related laws, rules and policies governing state employment, by establishing standards of fair conduct in state employment relations and by providing a convenient, expeditious and impartial tribunal in which these interests may have their respective rights determined.
111.80 Annotation
This subchapter does not prohibit retroactive contract effective date. Department of Administration v. WERC, 90 W (2d) 426, 280 NW (2d) 150 (1979).
111.80 Annotation
Application of open meeting law to duties of WERC discussed. 68 Atty. Gen. 171.
111.80 Annotation
Collective negotiations in higher education; a symposium. 1971 WLR 1.
111.80 Annotation
Public sector collective bargaining. Anderson, 1973 WLR 986.
111.80 Annotation
The appropriate scope of bargaining in the public sector: The continuing controversy and the Wisconsin experience. Weisberger. 1977 WLR 685.
111.81
111.81
Definitions. In this subchapter:
111.81(1)
(1) "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 employes, to meet and confer at reasonable times, in good faith, with respect to the subjects of bargaining provided in
s. 111.91 (1) 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.
111.81(2)
(2) "Collective bargaining unit" means a unit established under
s. 111.825.
111.81(3)
(3) "Commission" means the employment relations commission.
111.81(4)
(4) "Craft employe" means a skilled journeyman craftsman, including the skilled journeyman craftsman's apprentices and helpers, but shall not include employes not in direct line of progression in the craft.
111.81(5)
(5) "Department" means the department of employment relations.
111.81(6)
(6) "Election" means a proceeding conducted by the commission in which the employes in a collective bargaining unit cast a secret ballot for collective bargaining representatives, or for any other purpose specified in this subchapter.
111.81(7)(a)
(a) Any state employe in the classified service of the state, as defined in
s. 230.08, except limited term employes, sessional employes, project employes, supervisors, management employes and individuals who are privy to confidential matters affecting the employer-employe relationship, as well as all employes of the commission.
111.81(7)(b)
(b) Program, project or teaching assistants employed by the university of Wisconsin system, except supervisors, management employes and individuals who are privy to confidential matters affecting the employer-employe relationship.
111.81(7)(c)
(c) Assistant district attorneys, except supervisors, management employes and individuals who are privy to confidential matters affecting the employer-employe relationship.
111.81(7)(e)
(e) Attorneys employed in the office of the state public defender, except supervisors, management employes or individuals who are privy to confidential matters affecting the employer-employe relationship.
111.81(8)
(8) "Employer" means the state of Wisconsin.
111.81(9)
(9) "Fair-share agreement" means an agreement between the employer and a labor organization representing employes or supervisors specified in
s. 111.825 (5) under which all of the employes or supervisors 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.
111.81(10)
(10) "Joint committee on employment relations" means the legislative committee created under
s. 13.111.
111.81(11)
(11) "Labor dispute" means any controversy with respect to the subjects of bargaining provided in this subchapter.
111.81(12)
(12) "Labor organization" means any employe organization whose purpose is to represent employes in collective bargaining with the employer, or its agents, on matters pertaining to terms and conditions of employment; but the term shall not include any organization:
111.81(12)(a)
(a) Which advocates the overthrow of the constitutional form of government in the United States; or
111.81(12)(b)
(b) Which discriminates with regard to the terms or conditions of membership because of race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation or national origin.
111.81(12m)
(12m) "Maintenance of membership agreement" means an agreement between the employer and a labor organization representing employes or supervisors specified in
s. 111.825 (5) which requires that all of the employes or supervisors whose dues are being deducted from earnings under
s. 20.921 (1) or
111.84 (1) (f) at 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 employes or supervisors who are hired on or after the effective date of the agreement.
111.81(13)
(13) "Management" includes those personnel engaged predominately in executive and managerial functions, including such officials as division administrators, bureau directors, institutional heads and employes exercising similar functions and responsibilities as determined by the commission.
111.81(15)(a)
(a) Any employe in the classified service who is engaged in work:
111.81(15)(a)1.
1. Predominantly intellectual and varied in character as opposed to routine mental, manual, mechanical or physical work;
111.81(15)(a)2.
2. Involving the consistent exercise of discretion and judgment in its performance;
111.81(15)(a)3.
3. Of such a character that the output produced or the result accomplished cannot be standardized in relation to a given period of time;
111.81(15)(a)4.
4. Requiring knowledge of an advanced type in a field of science or learning customarily acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction and study in an institution of higher learning or a hospital, as distinguished from a general academic education or from an apprenticeship or from training in the performance of routine mental, manual or physical processes; or
111.81(15)(b)1.
1. Has completed the courses of specialized intellectual instruction and study described in
par. (a) 4.; and
111.81(15)(b)2.
2. Is performing related work under the supervision of a professional person to qualify to become a professional employe as defined in
par. (a).
111.81(15m)
(15m) "Program assistant" or "project assistant" means a graduate student enrolled in the university of Wisconsin system who is assigned to conduct research, training, administrative responsibilities or other academic or academic support projects or programs, except regular preparation of instructional materials for courses or manual or clerical assignments, under the supervision of a member of the faculty or academic staff, as defined in
s. 36.05 (1) or
(8), primarily for the benefit of the university, faculty or academic staff supervisor or a granting agency. "Project assistant" or "program assistant" does not include a graduate student who does work which is primarily for the benefit of the student's own learning and research and which is independent or self-directed.
111.81(16)
(16) "Referendum" means a proceeding conducted by the commission in which employes, or supervisors specified in
s. 111.825 (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.
111.81(17)
(17) "Representative" includes any person chosen by an employe to represent the employe.
111.81(18)
(18) "Strike" includes any strike or other concerted stoppage of work by employes, and any concerted slowdown or other concerted interruption of operations or services by employes, or any concerted refusal to work or perform their usual duties as employes of the state.
111.81(19)
(19) "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, layoff, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward or discipline employes, 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.
111.81(19m)
(19m) "Teaching assistant" means a graduate student enrolled in the university of Wisconsin system who is regularly assigned teaching and related responsibilities, other than manual or clerical responsibilities, under the supervision of a member of the faculty as defined in
s. 36.05 (8).
111.81(20)
(20) "Unfair labor practice" means any unfair labor practice specified in
s. 111.84.
111.815(1)(1) In the furtherance of this subchapter, the state shall be considered as a single employer and employment relations policies and practices throughout the state service shall be as consistent as practicable. The department shall negotiate and administer collective bargaining agreements. To coordinate the employer position in the negotiation of agreements, the department shall maintain close liaison with the legislature relative to the negotiation of agreements and the fiscal ramifications thereof. Except with respect to the collective bargaining units specified in
s. 111.825 (1m), the department is responsible for the employer functions of the executive branch under this subchapter, and shall coordinate its collective bargaining activities with operating state agencies on matters of agency concern. The legislative branch shall act upon those portions of tentative agreements negotiated by the department which require legislative action. With respect to the collective bargaining units specified in
s. 111.825 (1m), the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Board is responsible for the employer functions under this subchapter.
111.815(2)
(2) In the furtherance of the policy under
s. 111.80 (4), the secretary of the department shall establish a collective bargaining capability within the department outside of the division of merit recruitment and selection and shall, together with the appointing authorities or their representatives, represent the state in its responsibility as an employer under this subchapter except with respect to negotiations in the collective bargaining units specified in
s. 111.825 (1m). The secretary of the department shall establish and maintain, wherever practicable, consistent employment relations policies and practices throughout the state service.
111.815(3)
(3) With regard to collective bargaining activities involving employes who are assistant district attorneys, the secretary of the department shall maintain close liaison with the department of administration.
111.82
111.82
Rights of employes. Employes 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. Employes shall also have the right to refrain from any or all of such activities.
111.82 History
History: 1971 c. 270;
1995 a. 27.
111.825
111.825
Collective bargaining units. 111.825(1)
(1) It is the legislative intent that in order to foster meaningful collective bargaining, units must be structured in such a way as to avoid excessive fragmentation whenever possible. In accordance with this policy, collective bargaining units for employes in the classified service of the state, except employes in the collective bargaining units specified in
s. 111.825 (1m), are structured on a statewide basis with one collective bargaining unit for each of the following occupational groups:
111.825(1m)
(1m) Collective bargaining units for employes in the classified service of the state who are employed by the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Board are structured with one collective bargaining unit for each of the following occupational groups:
111.825(2)
(2) Collective bargaining units for employes in the unclassified service of the state shall be structured with one collective bargaining unit for each of the following groups:
111.825(2)(a)
(a) The program, project and teaching assistants of the university of Wisconsin-Madison and the university of Wisconsin-extension.
111.825(2)(b)
(b) The program, project and teaching assistants of the university of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
111.825(2)(c)
(c) The program, project and teaching assistants of the universities of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Parkside, Platteville, River Falls, Stevens Point, Stout, Superior and Whitewater.
111.825(2)(e)
(e) Attorneys employed in the office of the state public defender.
111.825(3)
(3) The commission shall assign employes to the appropriate collective bargaining units set forth in
subs. (1),
(1m) and
(2).
111.825(4)
(4) Any labor organization may petition for recognition as the exclusive representative of a collective bargaining unit specified in
sub. (1),
(1m) or
(2) in accordance with the election procedures set forth in
s. 111.83, provided the petition is accompanied by a 30% showing of interest in the form of signed authorization cards. Each additional labor organization seeking to appear on the ballot shall file petitions within 60 days of the date of filing of the original petition and prove, through signed authorization cards, that at least 10% of the employes in the collective bargaining unit want it to be their representative.
111.825(4m)
(4m) If a single representative is recognized or certified to represent more than one of the collective bargaining units specified in
sub. (1m), that representative and the employer may jointly agree to combine the collective bargaining units, subject to the right of the employes in any of the collective bargaining units that were combined to petition for an election under
s. 111.83 (6) and
(7). Any agreement under this subsection is effective upon written notice of the agreement by the parties to the commission and terminates upon written notice of termination by the parties to the commission or upon decertification of the representative entering into the agreement as representative of one of the combined collective bargaining units, whichever occurs first.
111.825(5)
(5) Although supervisors are not considered employes for purposes of this subchapter, the commission may consider a petition for a statewide collective bargaining unit of professional supervisors or a statewide unit of nonprofessional supervisors in the classified service, but the representative of supervisors may not be affiliated with any labor organization representing employes. 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 supervisors may not bargain collectively with respect to any matter other than wages and fringe benefits as provided in
s. 111.91 (1).
111.825(6)
(6) The commission shall only assign an employe of the department of administration, department of transportation or board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System who engages in the detection and prevention of crime, who enforces the laws and who is authorized to make arrests for violations of the laws; an employe of the department of administration, department of transportation or board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System who provides technical law enforcement support to such employes; and an employe of the department of transportation who engages in motor vehicle inspection or operator's license examination to the collective bargaining unit under
sub. (1) (cm).
