AB908: Bill Text

AB908,,1 2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 908

January 4, 2024 - Introduced by Representatives Cabrera, Sinicki, C. Anderson, J. Anderson, Bare, Considine, Doyle, Emerson, Haywood, Hong, Joers, Neubauer, Ohnstad, Palmeri, Ratcliff, Shankland, Shelton, Snodgrass, Stubbs, Subeck, Jacobson and Madison, cosponsored by Senators Larson, Agard, Carpenter, Hesselbein, Roys, Spreitzer, Wirch and L. Johnson. Referred to Committee on Labor and Integrated Employment.

AB908,,2 An Act to repeal 66.0506, 66.0508, 66.0509 (1m), 73.03 (68), 111.70 (1) (cm), 111.70 (3) (a) 7m., 111.70 (3) (b) 6m., 111.70 (4) (cg), 111.70 (4) (d) 3. b., 111.70 (4) (mb), 111.70 (4) (mbb), 111.71 (4m), 111.71 (5m), 111.81 (3n), 111.83 (3) (b), 111.91 (3) (b), 111.91 (3q), 118.245 and 120.12 (4m); to renumber 111.83 (3) (a); to renumber and amend 111.70 (4) (c) 1. and 111.70 (4) (cm) 1.; to consolidate and renumber 111.70 (4) (d) 3. a. and c.; to consolidate, renumber and amend 111.91 (3) (intro.) and (a); to amend 20.425 (1) (i), 111.70 (1) (a), 111.70 (3) (a) 5., 111.70 (4) (c) (title), 111.70 (4) (c) 2., 111.70 (4) (c) 3. (intro.), 111.70 (4) (cm) (title), 111.70 (4) (cm) 2., 3. and 4., 111.70 (4) (cm) 8m., 111.70 (4) (d) 1., 111.70 (4) (d) 2. a., 111.70 (4) (p), 111.70 (8) (a), 111.71 (2), 111.77 (9), 111.825 (5), 111.83 (1), 111.83 (4), 119.04 (1), 120.18 (1) (gm), 851.71 (4) and 904.085 (2) (a); and to create 111.70 (3) (a) 7., 111.70 (3) (b) 6., 111.70 (4) (c) 1g., 111.70 (4) (cm) 1g., 111.70 (4) (cm) 5., 111.70 (4) (cm) 6., 111.70 (4) (cm) 7., 111.70 (4) (cm) 7g., 111.70 (4) (cm) 7r., 111.70 (4) (cm) 8., 111.70 (4) (n), 111.70 (7m) (c) 3., 111.70 (7m) (e), 111.71 (4) and 111.71 (5) of the statutes; relating to: bargaining over wages, hours, and conditions of employment for public employees.

AB908,,3 Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the only subject that most state and municipal employees may collectively bargain over is a percentage increase in base wages that does not exceed the percentage increase in the consumer price index. This bill removes that limitation so that state and municipal employees may bargain over any increase in wages.

Also, under current law, certain protective occupation participants under the Wisconsin Retirement System, known as public safety employees, and certain municipal transit employees may collectively bargain wages, hours, and conditions of employment. Under the bill, most state and general municipal employees may collectively bargain hours and conditions of employment.

The bill also allows all municipal employers and labor organizations to agree to a dispute settlement procedure, including binding interest arbitration, to resolve an impasse over the terms of a collective bargaining agreement under the Municipal Employment Relations Act.

Under current law, representatives for most municipal and state employee bargaining units must be selected by at least 51 percent of the employees in the bargaining unit. The bill changes that requirement to a simple majority of the employees voting in the collective bargaining unit.

Finally, under current law, representatives for most municipal and state employee bargaining units must be certified annually by receiving at least 51 percent of the vote of the employees in the bargaining unit. The bill repeals this certification requirement.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AB908,,4 The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB908,1 Section 1. 20.425 (1) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB908,,6 20.425 (1) (i) Fees, collective bargaining training, publications, and appeals. The amounts in the schedule for the performance of fact-finding, mediation, certification, and arbitration functions, for the provision of copies of transcripts, for the cost of operating training programs under ss. 111.09 (3), 111.71 (5m) (5), and 111.94 (3), for the preparation of publications, transcripts, reports, and other copied material, and for costs related to conducting appeals under s. 230.45. All moneys received under ss. 111.09 (1) and (2), 111.70 (4) (d) 3. b., 111.71 (1) and (2), 111.83 (3) (b), 111.94 (1) and (2), and 230.45 (3), all moneys received from arbitrators and arbitration panel members, and individuals who are interested in serving in such positions, and from individuals and organizations who participate in other collective bargaining training programs conducted by the commission, and all moneys received from the sale of publications, transcripts, reports, and other copied material shall be credited to this appropriation account.

AB908,2 Section 2. 66.0506 of the statutes is repealed.

AB908,3 Section 3. 66.0508 of the statutes is repealed.

AB908,4 Section 4. 66.0509 (1m) of the statutes is repealed.

AB908,5 Section 5. 73.03 (68) of the statutes is repealed.

AB908,6 Section 6. 111.70 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB908,,12 111.70 (1) (a) “Collective bargaining” means the performance of the mutual obligation of a municipal employer, through its officers and agents, and the representative of its municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit, to meet and confer at reasonable times, in good faith, with the intention of reaching an agreement, or to resolve questions arising under such an agreement, with respect to wages, hours, and conditions of employment for public safety employees or transit employees and with respect to wages for general municipal employees, and with respect to a requirement of the municipal employer for a municipal employee to perform law enforcement and fire fighting services under s. 60.553, 61.66, or 62.13 (2e) and for a school district with respect to any matter under sub. (4) (n), except as provided in sub. (4) (mb) and (mc) and s. 40.81 (3) and except that a municipal employer shall not meet and confer with respect to any proposal to diminish or abridge the rights guaranteed to any public safety employees under ch. 164. Collective bargaining includes the reduction of any agreement reached to a written and signed document.

AB908,7 Section 7. 111.70 (1) (cm) of the statutes is repealed.

AB908,8 Section 8. 111.70 (3) (a) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB908,,15 111.70 (3) (a) 5. To violate any collective bargaining agreement previously agreed upon by the parties with respect to wages, hours, and conditions of employment affecting public safety employees or transit municipal employees, including an agreement to arbitrate questions arising as to the meaning or application of the terms of a collective bargaining agreement or to accept the terms of such arbitration award, where previously the parties have agreed to accept such award as final and binding upon them or to violate any collective bargaining agreement affecting general municipal employees, that was previously agreed upon by the parties with respect to wages.

AB908,9 Section 9. 111.70 (3) (a) 7. of the statutes is created to read:

AB908,,17 111.70 (3) (a) 7. To refuse or otherwise fail to implement an arbitration decision lawfully made under sub. (4) (cm).

AB908,10 Section 10. 111.70 (3) (a) 7m. of the statutes is repealed.

AB908,11 Section 11. 111.70 (3) (b) 6. of the statutes is created to read:

AB908,,20 111.70 (3) (b) 6. To refuse or otherwise fail to implement an arbitration decision lawfully made under sub. (4) (cm).

AB908,12 Section 12. 111.70 (3) (b) 6m. of the statutes is repealed.

AB908,13 Section 13. 111.70 (4) (c) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB908,,23 111.70 (4) (c) (title) Methods for peaceful settlement of disputes; public safety employees law enforcement and fire fighting personnel.

AB908,14 Section 14. 111.70 (4) (c) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 111.70 (4) (c) 1m. and amended to read:

AB908,,25 111.70 (4) (c) 1m. ‘Mediation.’ The commission may function as a mediator in labor disputes involving a collective bargaining unit containing a public safety employee. Such mediation may be carried on by a person designated to act by the commission upon request of one or both of the parties or upon initiation of the commission. The function of the mediator is to encourage voluntary settlement by the parties but no mediator has the power of compulsion.

AB908,15 Section 15. 111.70 (4) (c) 1g. of the statutes is created to read:

AB908,,27 111.70 (4) (c) 1g. ‘Applicability.’ This paragraph applies only to municipal employees who are engaged in law enforcement or fire fighting functions.

AB908,16 Section 16. 111.70 (4) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB908,,29 111.70 (4) (c) 2. ‘Arbitration.’ Parties to a dispute pertaining to the meaning or application of the terms of a written collective bargaining agreement involving a collective bargaining unit containing a public safety employee may agree in writing to have the commission or any other appropriate agency serve as arbitrator or may designate any other competent, impartial and disinterested person to so serve.

AB908,17 Section 17. 111.70 (4) (c) 3. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB908,,31 111.70 (4) (c) 3. ‘Fact-finding.’ (intro.) Unless s. 111.77 applies, if a dispute involving a collective bargaining unit containing a public safety employee has not been settled after a reasonable period of negotiation and after the settlement procedures, if any, established by the parties have been exhausted, and the parties are deadlocked with respect to any dispute between them arising in the collective bargaining process, either party, or the parties jointly, may petition the commission, in writing, to initiate fact-finding, and to make recommendations to resolve the deadlock, as follows:

AB908,18 Section 18. 111.70 (4) (cg) of the statutes is repealed.

AB908,19 Section 19. 111.70 (4) (cm) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB908,,34 111.70 (4) (cm) (title) Methods for peaceful settlement of disputes; general municipal employees other personnel.

AB908,20 Section 20. 111.70 (4) (cm) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 111.70 (4) (cm) 1m. and amended to read:

AB908,,36 111.70 (4) (cm) 1m. ‘Notice of commencement of contract negotiations.’ For the purpose of advising the commission of the commencement of contract negotiations involving a collective bargaining unit containing general municipal employees, whenever either party requests the other to reopen negotiations under a binding collective bargaining agreement, or the parties otherwise commence negotiations if no such agreement exists, the party requesting negotiations shall immediately notify the commission in writing. Upon failure of the requesting party to provide such notice, the other party may so notify the commission. The notice shall specify the expiration date of the existing collective bargaining agreement, if any, and shall set forth any additional information the commission may require on a form provided by the commission.

AB908,21 Section 21. 111.70 (4) (cm) 1g. of the statutes is created to read:

AB908,,38 111.70 (4) (cm) 1g. ‘Application.’ a. Chapter 788 does not apply to arbitration proceedings under this paragraph.

AB908,,39 b. This paragraph does not apply to labor disputes involving municipal employees who are engaged in law enforcement or fire fighting functions.

AB908,22 Section 22. 111.70 (4) (cm) 2., 3. and 4. of the statutes are amended to read:

AB908,,41 111.70 (4) (cm) 2. ‘Presentation of initial proposals; open meetings.’ The meetings between parties to a collective bargaining agreement or proposed collective bargaining agreement under this subchapter that involve a collective bargaining unit containing a general municipal employee and that are held for the purpose of presenting initial bargaining proposals, along with supporting rationale, shall be are open to the public. Each party shall submit its initial bargaining proposals to the other party in writing. Failure to comply with this subdivision is not cause to invalidate a collective bargaining agreement under this subchapter.

AB908,,42 3. ‘Mediation.’ The commission or its designee shall function as mediator in labor disputes involving general municipal employees upon request of one or both of the parties, or upon initiation of the commission. The function of the mediator shall be to encourage voluntary settlement by the parties. No mediator has the power of compulsion.

AB908,,43 4. ‘Grievance arbitration.’ Parties to a dispute pertaining to the meaning or application of the terms of a written collective bargaining agreement involving a collective bargaining unit containing a general municipal employee may agree in writing to have the commission or any other appropriate agency serve as arbitrator or may designate any other competent, impartial and disinterested person to so serve.

AB908,23 Section 23. 111.70 (4) (cm) 5. of the statutes is created to read:

AB908,,45 111.70 (4) (cm) 5. ‘Voluntary impasse resolution procedures.’ In addition to the other impasse resolution procedures provided in this paragraph, a municipal employer and labor organization may, as a permissive subject of bargaining, agree in writing to a dispute settlement procedure, including binding interest arbitration, that is acceptable to the parties for resolving an impasse over terms of any collective bargaining agreement under this subchapter. The parties shall file a copy of the agreement with the commission. If the parties agree to any form of binding interest arbitration, the arbitrator shall give weight to the factors enumerated under subds. 7. and 7g. for a collective bargaining unit consisting of municipal employees who are not school district employees and under subd. 7r. for a collective bargaining unit consisting of municipal employees.

AB908,24 Section 24. 111.70 (4) (cm) 6. of the statutes is created to read:

AB908,,47 111.70 (4) (cm) 6. ‘Interest arbitration.’ a. If in any collective bargaining unit a dispute relating to any issue has not been settled after a reasonable period of negotiation and after mediation by the commission under subd. 3. and other settlement procedures, if any, established by the parties have been exhausted, and the parties are deadlocked with respect to any dispute between them over wages, hours, or conditions of employment to be included in a new collective bargaining agreement, either party, or the parties jointly, may petition the commission, in writing, to initiate compulsory, final, and binding arbitration, as provided in this paragraph. At the time the petition is filed, the petitioning party shall submit in writing to the other party and the commission its preliminary final offer containing its latest proposals on all issues in dispute. Within 14 calendar days after the date of that submission, the other party shall submit in writing its preliminary final offer on all disputed issues to the petitioning party and the commission. If a petition is filed jointly, both parties shall exchange their preliminary final offers in writing and submit copies to the commission at the time the petition is filed.

AB908,,48 am. Upon receipt of a petition to initiate arbitration, the commission shall investigate, with or without a formal hearing, whether arbitration should be commenced. If in determining whether an impasse exists the commission finds that the procedures under this paragraph have not been complied with and that the compliance would tend to result in a settlement, it may order compliance before ordering arbitration. The validity of any arbitration award or collective bargaining agreement is not affected by failure to comply with the procedures. Prior to the close of the investigation, each party shall submit in writing to the commission its single final offer containing its final proposals on all issues in dispute that are subject to interest arbitration under this subdivision. If a party fails to submit a single final offer, the commission shall close the investigation based on the last written position of the party. Such final offers may include only mandatory subjects of bargaining, except that a permissive subject of bargaining may be included by a party if the other party does not object and shall then be treated as a mandatory subject. The parties shall also submit to the commission a written stipulation with respect to all matters that are agreed upon for inclusion in the new or amended collective bargaining agreement. The commission, after receiving a report from its investigator and determining that arbitration should be commenced, shall issue an order requiring arbitration and immediately submit to the parties a list of 7 arbitrators. The parties shall alternately strike names from the list until a single name is left, who shall be appointed as arbitrator. The petitioning party shall notify the commission in writing of the identity of the arbitrator selected. Upon receipt of the notice, the commission shall formally appoint the arbitrator and submit to him or her the final offers of the parties. The final offers are public documents and the commission shall make them available. In lieu of a single arbitrator and upon request of both parties, the commission shall appoint a tripartite arbitration panel consisting of one member selected by each of the parties and a neutral person designated by the commission who shall serve as a chairperson. An arbitration panel has the same powers and duties as provided in this section for any other appointed arbitrator, and all arbitration decisions by a panel shall be determined by majority vote. In place of selection of the arbitrator by the parties and upon request of both parties, the commission shall establish a procedure for randomly selecting names of arbitrators. Under the procedure, the commission shall submit a list of 7 arbitrators to the parties. Each party shall strike one name from the list. From the remaining 5 names, the commission shall randomly appoint an arbitrator. Unless both parties to an arbitration proceeding otherwise agree in writing, every individual whose name is submitted by the commission for appointment as an arbitrator must be a resident of this state at the time of submission and every individual who is designated as an arbitration panel chairperson must be a resident of this state at the time of designation.

AB908,,49 b. The arbitrator shall, within 10 days of his or her appointment, establish a date and place for the arbitration hearing. Upon petition of at least 5 citizens of the jurisdiction served by the municipal employer, filed within 10 days after the date on which the arbitrator is appointed, the arbitrator shall hold a public hearing in the jurisdiction to provide the opportunity to both parties to explain or present supporting arguments for their positions and to members of the public to offer their comments and suggestions. The final offers of the parties, as transmitted by the commission to the arbitrator, are the basis for any continued negotiations between the parties with respect to the issues in dispute. At any time prior to the arbitration hearing, either party, with the consent of the other party, may modify its final offer in writing.

AB908,,50 c. Prior to the arbitration hearing, either party may, within a time limit established by the arbitrator, withdraw its final offer and any mutually agreed upon modifications and shall immediately provide written notice of any withdrawal to the other party, the arbitrator, and the commission. If both parties withdraw their final offers and mutually agreed upon modifications, the labor organization, after giving 10 days’ written notice to the municipal employer and the commission, may strike. Unless both parties withdraw their final offers and mutually agreed upon modifications, the final offer of neither party is considered withdrawn and the arbitrator shall proceed to resolve the dispute by final and binding arbitration as provided in this paragraph.