Chapter ERC 70

Chapter ERC 70

ANNUAL CERTIFICATION ELECTIONS FOR REPRESENTED MUNICIPAL SECTOR GENERAL SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES WHO, AS OF SEPTEMBER 15, ARE NOT SUBJECT TO A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT OR ARE SUBJECT TO A COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO ON OR AFTER JUNE 29, 2011

ERC 70.01   Policy.

ERC 70.02   Scope.

ERC 70.03   Petition for election.

ERC 70.04   Withdrawal of petition.

ERC 70.05   Action following filing of petition.

ERC 70.06   Direction of election or other dispositional order.

ERC 70.07   Elections.

ERC 70.08   Certification of results of election.

ERC 70.09   Objections to election.

ERC 70.10   Commission action on challenges or objections.

ERC 70.11   Consequences of failure to achieve support of 51 percent of those eligible to vote in the annual certification election.

ERC 70.12   Petition for rehearing.

ERC 70.01 ERC 70.01 Policy. This chapter implements the portion of s. 111.70 (4) (d) 3. b., Stats., requiring the commission to conduct an annual election, no later than December 1, to determine whether collective bargaining representation shall continue for represented municipal sector general school district employees who, as of September 15, are not subject to a collective bargaining agreement or are subject to a collective bargaining agreement entered into on or after June 29, 2011. The existing exclusive representative of such employees that wishes to continue said representation, or any other labor organization interested in representing such employees, must file a petition on or before September 15 requesting the commission to conduct a secret ballot election to determine whether a minimum of 51 percent of the bargaining unit employees eligible to vote favor collective bargaining representation by the petitioner or another petitioning labor organization. If no timely petition is filed, the result is the same as if only the existing representative filed a timely petition and the election resulted in decertification of the existing representative. The procedures in this chapter are intended to expedite the processing of a petition so that the ballots are cast as soon as possible following the filing of the petition, while providing for an orderly and fair procedure for resolving outcome-determinative issues, including which ballots should be counted. Once a timely petition has been filed, an existing representative’s exclusive representative status is not adversely affected if the balloting is not concluded or the results of the election are not certified on or before December 1.

ERC 70.01 History History: EmR1113: emerg. cr., eff. 11-15-11; CR 13-092: cr. Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14.

ERC 70.01 Note Note: In Association of State Prosecutors v. Employment Relations Commission, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Consolidated Case Nos. 14-CV-9307, 14-CV-9658, 15-CV-0501, 15-CV-0328, 15-CV-0329 a Declaratory Judgment under s. 227.40, Stats was entered providing as follows:

ERC 70.01 Note THIS COURT ISSUES A DECLARATORY JUDGMENT that Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission exceeded its statutory authority in promulgating the Chapter ERC 70 and 80 requirement that an existing exclusive representative must file a Petition in order to qualify for a recertification election under Wis. Stat. ss. 111.83 (3) (b) and 111.70 (4) (d) 3. b.

ERC 70.01 Note THIS COURT ISSUES A DECLARATORY JUDGMENT under Wis. Stat s. 227.40 (4) (a) that those provisions in Chapter ERC 70 and 80 requiring an existing exclusive representative to file a Petition in order to qualify for a recertification election are invalid.

ERC 70.01 Note Note: The decision noted above was affirmed by the Court of Appeals in Wisconsin Association of State Prosecutors v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, 2016 WI App 85. The decision of the Court of Appeals was reversed by the Supreme Court in 2018 WI 17.

ERC 70.02 ERC 70.02 Scope.

ERC 70.02(1) (1) Bargaining units covered. This chapter applies only to bargaining units of general municipal employees as defined in s. 111.70 (1) (fm), Stats., who, as of September 15, are all of the following:

ERC 70.02(1)(a) (a) School district employees.

ERC 70.02(1)(b) (b) Represented by an exclusive representative.

ERC 70.02(1)(c) (c) Not subject to a collective bargaining agreement or subject to a collective bargaining agreement entered into on or after June 29, 2011.

ERC 70.02(2) (2) Bargaining units not covered. This chapter does not apply to bargaining units of employees who, as of September 15, are any of the following:

ERC 70.02(2)(a) (a) Public safety employees as defined in s. 111.70 (1) (mm), Stats.

ERC 70.02(2)(b) (b) Transit employees as defined in s. 111.70 (1) (p), Stats.

ERC 70.02(2)(c) (c) Nonschool district employees.

ERC 70.02 History History: EmR1113: emerg. cr., eff. 11-15-11; CR 13-092: cr. Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14.

ERC 70.03 ERC 70.03 Petition for election.

ERC 70.03(1) (1) Who may file. A petition for an annual election to determine whether a represented municipal sector general school district employee collective bargaining unit shall continue to be represented by an exclusive representative may be filed by the exclusive representative of a bargaining unit to which this chapter applies or by any other labor organization interested in representing the bargaining unit.

ERC 70.03(2) (2) Form. The petition shall be in writing on a form provided by the commission, or a facsimile of the commission’s form, and shall include the signature or a facsimile of the signature of the party or representative filing the petition. A petition is not filed unless it is accompanied by the applicable fee established by sub. (4), contains the required signature or signature facsimile, and has been received by the commission at its Madison office during normal business hours specified in s. ERC 10.06 (1). The petition shall be transmitted to the commission as set forth in s. ERC 10.06 (1). If the petition is filed in paper form, a total of 2 copies of the petition shall be included. If a showing of interest in support of the petition is required by sub. (5), the showing of interest shall be transmitted to the commission in paper form by physical delivery or mail. A petition requiring a showing of interest is not filed until both the petition and the showing of interest have been received by the commission at its Madison office during normal business hours specified in s. ERC 10.06 (1).

ERC 70.03(3) (3) Service on municipal employer. At the same time the labor organization files a petition for election with the commission, it shall electronically serve a copy of the petition on the municipal employer of the employees the labor organization currently represents or wishes to represent.

ERC 70.03(4) (4) Fee schedule. For a bargaining unit of 1 to 100 eligible voters, the petitioning labor organization shall pay the commission a fee of $200. For a bargaining unit of 101 to 250 eligible voters, the petitioning labor organization shall pay the commission a fee of $350. For a bargaining unit of 251 to 500 eligible voters, the petitioning labor organization shall pay the commission a fee of $500. For a bargaining unit of 501 to 1,000 eligible voters, the petitioning labor organization shall pay the commission a fee of $750. For a bargaining unit of 1,001 to 3,000 eligible voters, the petitioning labor organization shall pay the commission a fee of $1,500. For a bargaining unit of more than 3,000 eligible voters, the petitioning labor organization shall pay the commission a fee of $2,000. The fee shall be transmitted to the commission by physical delivery or mail. If more than one labor organization files an election petition, each labor organization shall pay its proportionate share of the fee. If the number of eligible voters determined by the commission differs from the number asserted in the petition and results in a change in the applicable fee amount, the petitioning labor organization shall pay the additional fee to the commission or receive a refund, as appropriate.

ERC 70.03(5) (5) Showing of interest. No showing of interest is required in support of a petition by the existing representative. A 30 percent showing of interest is required in support of a petition by any other interested labor organization, regardless of whether any other petition has been filed. Practice and procedure for submission and determination of the showing of interest shall be as set forth in s. ERC 11.05 (2).

ERC 70.03(6) (6) Contents. The petition shall include all of the following:

ERC 70.03(6)(a) (a) The name, address, and affiliation, if any, of the petitioner, and the name, address, and phone number of its principal representative. Fax numbers and e-mail addresses shall be included, if available.

ERC 70.03(6)(b) (b) The name and address of the municipal employer involved, and the name, address, and phone number of its principal representative. Fax numbers and e-mail addresses shall be included, if available.

ERC 70.03(6)(c) (c) A description of the bargaining unit involved, specifying inclusions and exclusions, as well as the approximate number of personnel in the unit.

ERC 70.03(6)(d) (d) A description of the status of the most recent collective bargaining agreement.

ERC 70.03(6)(e) (e) The names and addresses of any known labor organizations who either currently represent or claim to represent any of the personnel in the collective bargaining unit.

ERC 70.03(6)(f) (f) A brief statement including all of the following:

ERC 70.03(6)(f)1. 1. Whether the petitioner is currently the exclusive collective bargaining representative for the bargaining unit.

ERC 70.03(6)(f)2. 2. That the petitioner wishes to represent the bargaining unit.

ERC 70.03(6)(f)3. 3. That the petitioner requests that the commission conduct an annual certification election to determine whether the bargaining unit shall be represented by the petitioner for purposes of collective bargaining with the municipal employer.

ERC 70.03(6)(g) (g) A statement that the petitioner has served a copy of the petition on the municipal employer.

ERC 70.03(6)(h) (h) Any other relevant facts.

ERC 70.03(7) (7) Time for filing; consequences of failure to timely file; notice.

ERC 70.03(7)(a) (a) Time for filing. To be timely, a petition must be filed on or before September 15.

ERC 70.03(7)(b) (b) Consequences of failure to timely file. If no timely petition is filed by any labor organization, then the following consequences shall apply:

ERC 70.03(7)(b)1. 1. If no collective bargaining agreement is in effect, the existing representative shall no longer be entitled to exclusive representative status for purposes of collective bargaining as of September 15. If a collective bargaining agreement is in effect, the existing representative shall no longer be entitled to exclusive representative status for purposes of collective bargaining as of the expiration of the agreement.

ERC 70.03(7)(b)2. 2. The employees in the bargaining unit shall not be included in a substantially similar collective bargaining unit for a minimum of one year following the applicable date in subd. 1.

ERC 70.03(7)(c) (c) Notice of consequences of failure to timely file petition. At the request of the municipal employer or of any other interested party, the commission shall issue a notice of the consequences set forth in par. (b). Before issuing such a notice, the commission shall provide the exclusive representative an opportunity to respond to the request. When issued, copies of the notice shall be sent to the municipal employer, the former exclusive representative, and any interested party who requested the issuance of the notice.

ERC 70.03 History History: EmR1113: emerg. cr., eff. 11-15-11; CR 13-092: cr. Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14.

ERC 70.04 ERC 70.04 Withdrawal of petition. Any petition may be withdrawn at any time prior to the issuance of a final order based on it, by motion granted by the commission. A motion to withdraw shall be granted unless withdrawal would result in an injustice to any party. If the sole pending petition is withdrawn after the petition filing deadline set forth in s. ERC 70.03 (7) (a), then the consequences and notice of consequences of withdrawal of the petition shall be as set forth in s. ERC 70.03 (7) (b) and (c) but the date of dismissal of the withdrawn petition shall apply in place of the date specified in s. ERC 70.03 (7) (a).

ERC 70.04 History History: EmR1113: emerg. cr., eff. 11-15-11; CR 13-092: cr. Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14.

ERC 70.05 ERC 70.05 Action following filing of petition.

ERC 70.05(1) (1) Furnishing of personnel data by municipal employer. Within 10 days of its receipt of the petition pursuant to s. ERC 70.03 (3), the municipal employer shall furnish to the commission in an electronically sortable format an alphabetical list of the names of the personnel and the last 4 digits of said personnel’s social security numbers who were employed in the collective bargaining unit involved as of the pay period in which the first timely petition was filed or another date specified by the commission. If the commission so directs, the list shall also include each employee’s mailing addresses including zip code and the employee’s work unit and location. The commission shall designate the number of copies of the paper form list to be provided. If the commission so directs, the municipal employer shall, within the same time period, submit 2 sets of mailing labels including the employee’s name and mailing address, suitable for use in a mail ballot procedure. At the same time the municipal employer furnishes the commission with personnel data, the municipal employer shall furnish the petitioning labor organization with an electronically sortable alphabetical list of the names of the personnel provided to the commission. The period of time for furnishing the personnel data may be extended by the commission for good cause shown.

ERC 70.05(2) (2) Response to personnel data. Within 10 days of receipt of the personnel data from the municipal employer, the petitioner shall electronically provide the commission and the municipal employer with an alphabetical list of the names of personnel that should be added to or deleted from the municipal employer’s personnel list. The period of time for furnishing the list may be extended by the commission for good cause shown.

ERC 70.05 History History: EmR1113: emerg. cr., eff. 11-15-11; CR 13-092: cr. Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14.

ERC 70.06 ERC 70.06 Direction of election or other dispositional order. As soon as possible after receipt and service of the personnel data, the commission shall, in writing, either direct an election, dismiss the petition, or make other orders regarding the disposition of the petition. In cases where the commission is directing an election, the direction shall establish the date on or before which an employee shall have been employed to be eligible to vote. The date shall be a date specified by the commission in the pay period in which the first timely petition was filed under this chapter regarding the bargaining unit, or another date specified by the commission. The direction of election shall provide that all individuals on the list provided by the municipal employer and on the list, if any, provided by a petitioning labor organization shall be allowed to vote, subject to the right of the municipal employer and any petitioning labor organization to challenge the eligibility of the voter.

ERC 70.06 History History: EmR1113: emerg. cr., eff. 11-15-11; CR 13-092: cr. Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14; correction made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2014 No. 702.

ERC 70.07 ERC 70.07 Elections.

ERC 70.07(1) (1) Nature of balloting; by whom conducted; extension of time to conduct. All elections shall be conducted by secret ballot and under the supervision of the commission or impartial agents designated by the commission. The commission shall determine on a case by case basis whether the secret balloting shall be conducted on-site or by mail or by other means determined by the commission to be fair and reliable. The time within which the commission has directed an election to be conducted may be extended by the commission.

ERC 70.07(2) (2) Notice of election. The municipal employer shall post notices to personnel concerning the election at times, locations, and in a form specified by the commission.

ERC 70.07(3) (3) Observers. Any interested party may be represented by observers at on-site election locations and at locations at which vote counts are conducted. Observers shall be selected in accordance with limitations, if any, established by the commission.

ERC 70.07(4) (4) Challenge of voters. Any party, observer, or commission agent conducting the election may challenge, for good cause, the eligibility of any person to vote in the election. The ballots of challenged voters shall be impounded or otherwise segregated without being opened or counted.

ERC 70.07(5) (5) Count and tally of ballots. Upon the conclusion of the election, the commission shall furnish a tally of ballots to the parties.

ERC 70.07(6) (6) Inconclusive elections. When more than one proposed representative appears on the ballot, if a minimum of 51 percent of the eligible voters favor representation but no single representative receives the votes of a minimum of 51 percent of the eligible voters, the commission, on request of any party, may conduct a runoff election as provided in s. 111.70 (4) (d) 4., Stats. A request for a runoff election shall be made within 30 days from the date of the certification of the results of the election.

ERC 70.07 History History: EmR1113: emerg. cr., eff. 11-15-11; CR 13-092: cr. Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14.

ERC 70.08 ERC 70.08 Certification of results of election. If challenged ballots are insufficient in number to affect the results, no runoff election is needed, and no timely objections are filed under s. ERC 70.09, the commission shall issue to the parties a certification of the results of the election.

ERC 70.08 History History: EmR1113: emerg. cr., eff. 11-15-11; CR 13-092: cr. Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14.

ERC 70.09 ERC 70.09 Objections to election.

ERC 70.09(1) (1) Filing; form; copies. Within 8 days after receiving the tally of ballots, any party may file with the commission objections to conduct affecting the results of the election. Objections shall be in writing and shall include the signature or a facsimile of the signature of the party or representative filing the objections. The objections shall contain a brief statement of facts upon which the objections are based. A statement of objections is not filed unless it contains the required signature or signature facsimile and has been actually received by the commission at its Madison office during normal business hours specified in s. ERC 10.06 (1). The objections shall be transmitted to the commission as set forth in s. ERC 10.06 (1). If the objections are filed in paper form, a total of 2 copies of the objections shall be included.

ERC 70.09(2) (2) Service on other parties. The party filing objections shall, at the same time, serve each of the other parties with a copy as set forth in s. ERC 10.07.

ERC 70.09 History History: EmR1113: emerg. cr., eff. 11-15-11; CR 13-092: cr. Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14.

ERC 70.10 ERC 70.10 Commission action on challenges or objections.

ERC 70.10(1) (1) Hearing. If challenges to voter eligibility or objections to election conduct may affect the election outcome and cannot be resolved without a hearing, the commission may issue and serve a notice of hearing concerning the issues to be resolved. Practice and procedure for hearings on challenges or objections shall be as set forth in ss. ERC 18.06 to 18.08.