Chapter 111

111.825(6)(b) (b) The commission may assign only a public safety employee to the collective bargaining unit under sub. (1) (g).

111.825(7) (7) Notwithstanding sub. (3), if on July 1, 2015, an employee of the University of Wisconsin System is assigned to a collective bargaining unit under s. 111.825 (2) (a), (b), (c), (g), (h), or (i), 2013 stats., or sub. (1) the commission shall assign the person to the corresponding collective bargaining unit under sub. (1r) or (1t), whichever is appropriate. Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, the commission may not assign any other persons to the collective bargaining units under sub. (1r) or (1t).

111.825 History History: 1985 a. 29; 1985 a. 42 ss. 4 to 6, 8, 18; 1985 a. 332; 1987 a. 331; 1989 a. 31; 1995 a. 27, 251, 324; 1997 a. 24; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 253; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 10, 32; 2013 a. 20 ss. 2365m, 9448; 2013 a. 166; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 365 s. 111; 2017 a. 366.

111.825 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ERC 27, Wis. adm. code.

111.83 111.83 Representatives and elections.

111.83(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (5), a representative chosen for the purposes of collective bargaining by at least 51 percent of the general employees in a collective bargaining unit shall be the exclusive representative of all of the employees in such unit for the purposes of collective bargaining. A representative chosen for the purposes of collective bargaining by a majority of the public safety 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 grievances to the employer in person, or through representatives of their own choosing, and the employer shall confer with the employee or group of employees in relation thereto 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.

111.83(2) (2) Whenever the commission decides to permit employees to determine for themselves whether they desire to establish themselves as a collective bargaining unit, such determination shall be conducted by secret ballot. In such instances, the commission shall cause the balloting to be conducted so as to show separately the wishes of the employees in the voting group involved as to the determination of the collective bargaining unit.

111.83(3) (3) 

111.83(3)(a) (a) Whenever a question arises concerning the representation of employees in a collective bargaining unit the commission shall determine the representative thereof by taking a secret ballot of the employees and certifying in writing the results thereof to the interested parties and to the administrator of the division. 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. 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).

111.83(3)(b) (b) Annually, no later than December 1, the commission shall conduct an election to certify the representative of a collective bargaining unit that contains a general employee. There shall be included on the ballot the names of all labor organizations having an interest in representing the general employees participating in the election. 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 commission shall certify any representative that receives at least 51 percent of the votes of all of the general employees in the collective bargaining unit. If no representative receives at least 51 percent of the votes of all of the general employees in the collective bargaining unit, at the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, the commission shall decertify the current representative and the general employees shall be nonrepresented. Notwithstanding s. 111.82, if a representative is decertified under this paragraph, the affected general employees may not be included in a substantially similar collective bargaining unit for 12 months from the date of decertification. The commission’s certification of the results of any election is conclusive unless reviewed as provided by s. 111.07 (8). The commission shall assess and collect a certification fee for each election conducted under this paragraph. Fees collected under this paragraph shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.425 (1) (i).

111.83 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ERC 80, Wis. adm. code.

111.83(4) (4) Whenever an election has been conducted under sub. (3) (a) in which the name of more than one proposed representative appears on the ballot and results in no conclusion, the commission may, if requested by any 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. The commission shall drop from the ballot the privilege of voting against any representative if the least number of votes cast at the first election was against representation by any named representative.

111.83(5) (5) 

111.83(5)(a) (a) This subsection applies only to the collective bargaining unit specified in s. 111.825 (1r) (ec).

111.83(5)(b) (b) Upon filing of a petition with the commission indicating a showing of interest of at least 30 percent of the employees at an institution who are included within a collective bargaining unit to be represented by a labor organization, the commission shall hold an election in which the employees in that unit at that institution may vote on the question of representation. The labor organization named in any such petition shall be included on the ballot. Within 60 days of the time that an original petition is filed, another petition may be filed with the commission indicating a showing of interest of at least 10 percent of the employees at the same institution who are included in the same collective bargaining unit to be represented by another labor organization, in which case the name of that labor organization shall be included on the ballot. If more than one original petition is filed within a 30-day period concerning employees in the collective bargaining unit specified in s. 111.825 (1r) (ec), the results of all elections held pursuant to the petitions shall be announced by the commission at the same time. The ballot shall be prepared in accordance with sub. (3), except as otherwise provided in this subsection.

111.83(5)(c) (c) Notwithstanding s. 111.825 (1r) (ec), the employees at any institution included within the collective bargaining unit at which no petition is filed and no election is held or at which the employees indicate, by a majority of those voting in an election, a desire not to participate in collective bargaining are not considered to be a part of that collective bargaining unit.

111.83(5)(d) (d) If at an election held under par. (b), at least 51 percent of the employees in the collective bargaining unit at all institutions in which the choice to participate in collective bargaining receives at least 51 percent of the eligible votes elect to be represented by a single labor organization, that labor organization shall be the exclusive representative for all employees in that collective bargaining unit, except those excluded under par. (c).

111.83(5)(e) (e) If at an election held under par. (b), at least 51 percent of the employees in the collective bargaining unit at all institutions in which the choice to participate in collective bargaining receives at least 51 percent of the eligible votes do not elect to be represented by a single labor organization, the commission may hold one or more runoff elections under sub. (4) until one representative receives at least 51 percent of the eligible votes.

111.83(5)(f) (f) Notwithstanding par. (b), if a labor organization is certified to represent the employees within the collective bargaining unit at one or more institutions, and a petition is filed with the commission indicating a showing of interest by the employees at an institution which is not a part of the unit under par. (c) to be represented by a labor organization, the only question which may appear on the ballot shall be whether the employees desire to participate in collective bargaining. A petition under this paragraph may be filed only during June in an even-numbered year. If at least 51 percent of the employees at the institution who are included within the collective bargaining unit vote to participate in collective bargaining, the employees at that institution shall become a part of that collective bargaining unit.

111.83(5)(g) (g) If the collective bargaining unit is represented by a labor organization and a collective bargaining agreement is in effect between that labor organization and the employer, and the employees at an institution who have not voted to become a part of that collective bargaining unit vote to join the unit under par. (f), such action shall become effective on the day that the succeeding collective bargaining agreement between the representative and the employer takes effect.

111.83(5)(h) (h) If a petition is filed under sub. (6) for the discontinuance of existing representation indicating a showing of interest by 30 percent of the total number of employees at all institutions at which employees in the collective bargaining unit have voted to become a part of the unit, the commission shall hold an election on that question at all such institutions. If a petition is filed under sub. (6) indicating a showing of interest by 30 percent of the employees at one or more, but not all, of the institutions at which employees in the collective bargaining unit have voted to become a part of the unit, the commission shall hold an election on that question only at the institution or institutions at which the showing is made. In such an election, the only question appearing on the ballot shall be whether the employees desire to participate in collective bargaining.

111.83(5)(i) (i) If a petition is filed under sub. (6) for a change of existing representation, the commission shall hold an election on the question in accordance with par. (b), except that participation shall be limited to employees at those institutions included in the collective bargaining unit who have previously voted to become a part of the unit. Runoff elections shall be held, as provided in par. (e), when necessary. At any such election, if a majority of the total number of employees included in the collective bargaining unit at all institutions at which employees have voted to become a part of the unit elect not to participate in collective bargaining, regardless of the result of the vote at any single institution, no representative may be certified by the commission to represent the employees at any institution within that collective bargaining unit, unless a new petition and election is held under par. (b). However, if a majority of the total number of employees included in the collective bargaining unit at all institutions at which employees have voted to become a part of the unit elect to participate in collective bargaining, but a majority of the employees at one or more of the institutions elect not to participate in collective bargaining, then only the employees at those institutions electing not to participate shall not be considered a part of that collective bargaining unit.

111.83(6) (6) 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.

111.83(7) (7) Notwithstanding subs. (1), (3) and (6) and s. 111.825 (4), if on July 1, 2015, there is a representative recognized or certified to represent the employees in any of the collective bargaining units specified in s. 111.825 (1) (a) to (f), that representative shall become the representative of the employees in the corresponding collective bargaining units specified in s. 111.825 (1r) (a) to (f) or (1t) (a) to (f), whichever is appropriate, without the necessity of filing a petition or conducting an election, subject to the right of any person to file a petition under this section during October 2014 or at any subsequent time when sub. (6) applies.

111.83 History History: 1971 c. 270; 1975 c. 238; 1985 a. 42; 1989 a. 336; 1995 a. 27; 2003 a. 33; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 10, 32; 2013 a. 20 ss. 2365m, 9448; 2013 a. 166; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 365 s. 111.

111.83 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ERC 21, Wis. adm. code.

111.83 Annotation The Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission may require a labor organization that has an interest in being on a certification election ballot under sub. (3) (b) to file a petition for election. Wisconsin Ass’n of State Prosecutors v. WERC, 2018 WI 17, 380 Wis. 2d 1, 907 N.W.2d 425, 15-2224.

111.83 Annotation The Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission may decertify a current representative labor organization on September 15, or at the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later, when the organization fails to timely file a petition for election because that failure is “logically equivalent” to an election in which a current representative labor organization does not receive at least 51 percent of the votes under sub. (3) (b). Wisconsin Ass’n of State Prosecutors v. WERC, 2018 WI 17, 380 Wis. 2d 1, 907 N.W.2d 425, 15-2224.

111.83 Annotation 2011 Wis. Act 10 amendments did not violate equal protection or free speech protections. Wisconsin Education Ass’n Council v. Walker, 705 F.3d 640 (2013).

111.84 111.84 Unfair labor practices.

111.84(1) (1) It is an unfair labor practice for an employer individually or in concert with others:

111.84(1)(a) (a) To interfere with, restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of their rights guaranteed in s. 111.82.

111.84(1)(b) (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 constitutes a violation of this paragraph unless an applicable collective bargaining agreement covering a collective bargaining unit under s. 111.825 (1) (g) specifically prohibits the change or action. No such change or action affects the continuing duty to bargain collectively with a collective bargaining unit under s. 111.825 (1) (g) regarding the Wisconsin retirement system under ch. 40 to the extent required by s. 111.91 (1). 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. Professional supervisory or craft personnel may maintain membership in professional or craft organizations; however, as members of such organizations they shall be prohibited from those activities related to collective bargaining in which the organizations may engage.

111.84(1)(c) (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.

111.84(1)(d) (d) To refuse to bargain collectively on matters set forth in s. 111.91 (1) or (3), whichever is appropriate, with a representative of a majority of its employees in an appropriate collective bargaining unit. Where the employer has a good faith doubt as to whether a labor organization claiming the support of a majority of its employees in 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. It is not deemed to have refused to bargain until an election has been held and the results thereof certified to it by the commission. A violation of this paragraph includes, but is not limited to, the refusal to execute a collective bargaining agreement previously orally agreed upon.

111.84(1)(e) (e) To violate any collective bargaining agreement previously agreed upon by the parties with respect to wages, hours and conditions of employment affecting employees, including an agreement to arbitrate or to accept the terms of an arbitration award, where previously the parties have agreed to accept such award as final and binding upon them.

111.84(1)(f) (f) To deduct labor organization dues from the earnings of a public safety employee, unless the employer has been presented with an individual order therefor, signed by the public safety employee personally, and terminable by at least the end of any year of its life or earlier by the public safety 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.

111.84(1)(g) (g) To use any moneys received for any purpose to discourage, to train any supervisor, management employee, or other employee to discourage, or to contract with any person for the purposes of discouraging, employees in the exercise of their rights guaranteed under s. 111.82.

111.84(2) (2) It is an unfair labor practice for an employee individually or in concert with others:

111.84(2)(a) (a) To coerce or intimidate an employee in the enjoyment of the employee’s legal rights, including those guaranteed under s. 111.82.

111.84(2)(b) (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. 111.82 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.

111.84(2)(c) (c) To refuse to bargain collectively on matters set forth in s. 111.91 (1) or (3), whichever is appropriate, with the duly authorized officer or agent of the employer which is the recognized or certified exclusive collective bargaining representative of employees specified in s. 111.81 (7) (a) in an appropriate collective bargaining unit or with the certified exclusive collective bargaining representative of employees specified in s. 111.81 (7) (ar) to (f) in an appropriate collective bargaining unit. Such refusal to bargain shall include, but not be limited to, the refusal to execute a collective bargaining agreement previously orally agreed upon.

111.84(2)(d) (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, where previously the parties have agreed to accept such awards as final and binding upon them.

111.84(2)(e) (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.

111.84(2)(f) (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.

111.84(3) (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 sub. (1) or (2).

111.84(4) (4) Any controversy concerning unfair labor practices may be submitted to the commission as provided in s. 111.07, except that the commission shall fix hearing on complaints involving alleged violations of sub. (2) (e) within 3 days after filing of such complaints, and notice shall be given to each party interested by service on the party personally, or by telegram, advising the party of the nature of the complaint and of the date, time and place of hearing thereon. The commission may in its discretion appoint a substitute tribunal to hear unfair labor practice charges by either appointing a 3-member panel or submitting a 7-member panel to the parties and allowing each to strike 2 names. Such panel shall report its finding to the commission for appropriate action.

111.84 History History: 1971 c. 270; 1973 c. 212; 1983 a. 160; 1985 a. 42; 1989 a. 13, 31; 1991 a. 289; 1993 a. 492; 1995 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2009 a. 28, 289; 2011 a. 10, 32; 2013 a. 20 ss. 2365m, 9448; 2013 a. 151, 166, 168.

111.84 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ERC 22, Wis. adm. code.

111.84 Annotation The state’s termination of an employee, in part because of the employee’s participation in union activities, violated this subchapter, the state employment labor relations act (SELRA). State v. WERC, 122 Wis. 2d 132, 361 N.W.2d 660 (1985).

111.84 Annotation Discussing unfair labor practices and collective bargaining regarding pensions as to state employees. 64 Atty. Gen. 18.

111.845 111.845 Wage deduction prohibition. The employer may not deduct labor organization dues from a general employee’s earnings.

111.845 History History: 2011 a. 10.

111.845 Annotation The creation of this section by 2011 Wis. Act 10 did not violate equal protection or free speech protections. Wisconsin Education Ass’n Council v. Walker, 705 F.3d 640 (2013).

111.85 111.85 Fair-share and maintenance of membership agreements.

111.85(1) (1) 

111.85(1)(a) (a) No fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement covering public safety employees may become effective unless authorized by a referendum. The commission shall order a referendum whenever it receives a petition supported by proof that at least 30 percent of the public safety employees in a collective bargaining unit desire that a fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement be entered into between the employer and a labor organization. A petition may specify that a referendum is requested on a maintenance of membership agreement only, in which case the ballot shall be limited to that question.

111.85(1)(b) (b) For a fair-share agreement to be authorized, at least two-thirds of the eligible public safety employees voting in a referendum shall vote in favor of the agreement. For a maintenance of membership agreement to be authorized, at least a majority of the eligible public safety employees voting in a referendum shall vote in favor of the agreement. In a referendum on a fair-share agreement, if less than two-thirds but more than one-half of the eligible public safety employees vote in favor of the agreement, a maintenance of membership agreement is authorized.

111.85(1)(c) (c) If a fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement is authorized in a referendum, the employer shall enter into such an agreement with the labor organization named on the ballot in the referendum. Each fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement shall contain a provision requiring the employer to deduct the amount of dues as certified by the labor organization from the earnings of the public safety employees affected by the agreement and to pay the amount so deducted to the labor organization. Unless the parties agree to an earlier date, the agreement shall take effect 60 days after certification by the commission that the referendum vote authorized the agreement. The employer shall be held harmless against any claims, demands, suits and other forms of liability made by public safety employees or local labor organizations which may arise for actions taken by the employer in compliance with this section. All such lawful claims, demands, suits and other forms of liability are the responsibility of the labor organization entering into the agreement.

111.85(1)(d) (d) Under each fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement, a public safety employee who has religious convictions against dues payments to a labor organization based on teachings or tenets of a church or religious body of which he or she is a member shall, on request to the labor organization, have his or her dues paid to a charity mutually agreed upon by the public safety employee and the labor organization. Any dispute concerning this paragraph may be submitted to the commission for adjudication.

111.85(2) (2) 

111.85(2)(a) (a) Once authorized, a fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement covering public safety employees shall continue in effect, subject to the right of the employer or labor organization concerned to petition the commission to conduct a new referendum. Such petition must be supported by proof that at least 30 percent of the public safety employees in the collective bargaining unit desire that the fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement be discontinued. Upon so finding, the commission shall conduct a new referendum. If the continuance of the fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement is approved in the referendum by at least the percentage of eligible voting public safety employees required for its initial authorization, it shall be continued in effect, subject to the right of the employer or labor organization to later initiate a further vote following the procedure prescribed in this subsection. If the continuation of the agreement is not supported in any referendum, it is deemed terminated at the termination of the collective bargaining agreement, or one year from the date of the certification of the result of the referendum, whichever is earlier.

111.85(2)(b) (b) The commission shall declare any fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement suspended upon such conditions and for such time as the commission decides whenever it finds that the labor organization involved has refused on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation or creed to receive as a member any public safety employee in the collective bargaining unit involved, and the agreement shall be made subject to the findings and orders of the commission. Any of the parties to the agreement, or any public safety employee covered thereby, may come before the commission, as provided in s. 111.07, and petition the commission to make such a finding.

111.85(3) (3) A stipulation for a referendum executed by an employer and a labor organization may not be filed until after the representation election has been held and the results certified.

111.85(4) (4) The commission may, under rules adopted for that purpose, appoint as its agent an official of a state agency whose public safety employees are entitled to vote in a referendum to conduct a referendum provided for herein.

111.85(5) (5) Notwithstanding sub. (1), if on July 1, 2015, there is a fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement in effect in any of the collective bargaining units specified in s. 111.825 (1) (a) to (f), that fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement shall apply to the corresponding collective bargaining unit under s. 111.825 (1r) (a) to (f) or (1t) (a) to (f), whichever is appropriate, without the necessity of filing a petition or conducting a referendum, subject to the right of the employees in each collective bargaining unit to file a petition requesting a referendum under sub. (2) (a).

111.85 History History: 1971 c. 270; 1981 c. 112; 1983 a. 160; 1985 a. 42; 1995 a. 27; 2011 a. 10, 32; 2013 a. 20 ss. 2365m, 9448; 2013 a. 166; 2017 a. 365 s. 111.

111.85 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ERC 26, Wis. adm. code.

111.85 Annotation The constitutional requirements of a union’s collection of agency fees under a fair-share agreement include: 1) an adequate explanation of the basis of the fee; 2) a reasonably prompt opportunity to challenge the amount of the fee before an impartial decisionmaker; and 3) an escrow for the amounts reasonably in dispute. Browne v. WERC, 169 Wis. 2d 79, 485 N.W.2d 376 (1992).

111.85 Annotation To be chargeable to nonunion, public sector employees under a fair share agreement, union activities must: 1) be germane to collective bargaining activity; 2) be justified by the government’s vital policy interest in labor peace and avoiding “free riders;” and 3) not significantly add to the burdening of free speech that is inherent in an agency or union shop. Browne v. WERC, 169 Wis. 2d 79, 485 N.W.2d 376 (1992).

111.86 111.86 Grievance arbitration.

111.86(1) (1) Parties to the dispute pertaining to the interpretation of a collective bargaining agreement may agree in writing to have the commission or any other appointing state agency serve as arbitrator or may designate any other competent, impartial and disinterested persons to so serve. Such arbitration proceedings shall be governed by ch. 788.

111.86(2) (2) The division shall charge a state department or agency the employer’s share of the cost related to grievance arbitration under sub. (1) for any arbitration that involves one or more employees of the state department or agency. Each state department or agency so charged shall pay the amount that the division charges from the appropriation account or accounts used to pay the salary of the grievant. Funds received under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (1) (ks).

111.86 History History: 1971 c. 270; 1979 c. 32 s. 92 (15); 1985 a. 42; 1995 a. 27; 2003 a. 33; 2015 a. 55.

111.86 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ERC 23, Wis. adm. code.

111.87 111.87 Mediation. The commission may appoint any competent, impartial, disinterested person to act as mediator in any labor dispute either upon its own initiative or upon the request of one of the parties to the dispute. It is the function of such mediator to bring the parties together voluntarily under such favorable auspices as will tend to effectuate settlement of the dispute, but neither the mediator nor the commission shall have any power of compulsion in mediation proceedings.

111.87 History History: 1971 c. 270.

111.87 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ERC 24, Wis. adm. code.

111.88 111.88 Fact-finding.

111.88(1) (1) If a dispute has not been settled after a reasonable period of negotiation and after the settlement procedures, if any, established by the parties have been exhausted, the representative which has been certified by the commission after an election, or, in the case of a representative of employees specified in s. 111.81 (7) (a), has been duly recognized by the employer, as the exclusive representative of employees in an appropriate collective bargaining unit, and the employer, its officers and agents, after a reasonable period of negotiation, are deadlocked with respect to any dispute between them arising in the collective bargaining process, the parties jointly, may petition the commission, in writing, to initiate fact-finding under this section, and to make recommendations to resolve the deadlock.

111.88(2) (2) Upon receipt of a petition to initiate fact-finding, the commission shall make an investigation with or without a formal hearing, to determine whether a deadlock in fact exists. After its investigation, the commission shall certify the results thereof. If the commission decides that fact-finding should be initiated, it shall appoint a qualified, disinterested person or 3-member panel, when jointly requested by the parties, to function as a fact finder.

111.88(3) (3) The fact finder may establish dates and place of hearings and shall conduct the hearings under rules established by the commission. Upon request, the commission shall issue subpoenas for hearings conducted by the fact finder. The fact finder may administer oaths. Upon completion of the hearing, the fact finder shall make written findings of fact and recommendations for solution of the dispute and shall cause the same to be served on the parties and the commission. In making findings and recommendations, the fact finder shall take into consideration among other pertinent factors the principles vital to the public interest in efficient and economical governmental administration. Cost of fact-finding proceedings shall be divided equally between the parties. At the time the fact finder submits a statement of his or her costs to the parties, the fact finder shall submit a copy thereof to the commission at its Madison office.

111.88(4) (4) Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting any fact finder from endeavoring to mediate the dispute at any time prior to the issuance of the fact finder’s recommendations.

111.88(5) (5) Within 30 days of the receipt of the fact finder’s recommendations or within such time period mutually agreed upon by the parties, each party shall advise the other, in writing, as to the party’s acceptance or rejection, in whole or in part, of the fact finder’s recommendations and, at the same time, send a copy of such notification to the commission at its Madison office. Failure to comply with this subsection, by the state employer or employee representative, constitutes a violation of s. 111.84 (1) (d) or (2) (c).

111.88 History History: 1971 c. 270; 1985 a. 42; 1993 a. 492; 1995 a. 225.

111.88 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. ERC 25 and 40, Wis. adm. code.

111.89 111.89 Strike prohibited.

111.89(1) (1) Upon establishing that a strike is in progress, the employer may either seek an injunction or file an unfair labor practice charge with the commission under s. 111.84 (2) (e) or both. It is the responsibility of the division to decide whether to seek an injunction or file an unfair labor practice charge. The existence of an administrative remedy does not constitute grounds for denial of injunctive relief.

111.89(2) (2) The occurrence of a strike and the participation therein by an employee do not affect the rights of the employer, in law or in equity, to deal with the strike, including: