Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission

The Employment Relations Commission was established by Chapter 75, Laws of 1967 (Reorganization Act), which renamed the Employment Relations Board (WIHV85-A1987) and designated it an independent agency.

The Commission is responsible for furthering collective bargaining and promoting peace in labor relations in the private as well as the public sector of Wisconsin's economy by processing the following types of labor relations cases: election, referendum, complaint, mediation, arbitration, prohibited practices, declaratory ruling, and municipal interest arbitration for municipal employees including law enforcement and fire fighters. Election, referendum, unfair labor and prohibited practice complaints, and interest/arbitration are initiated by the filing of formal documents by employees, employee organizations, or employers. The Commission has the authority to conduct hearings and elections and referenda to determine bargaining units, collective bargaining representatives, and authorization for union security agreements. It also conducts hearings and issues orders in unfair labor and prohibited practices cases, which are subject to review in the state courts; as well as in declaratory ruling proceedings to determine mandatory versus permissive subjects of bargaining. The Commission's mediation function is initiated at the request of either an employee organization or the employer or both; or, on occasion, the Commission, by its own action or at the request of the Governor, will offer its mediation services to assist in the resolution of labor disputes. Commissioners and staff members, as arbitrators, issue final and binding awards.

Under laws enacted by the 1971 Legislature, the duties of the Commission were expanded in the area of public employment relations. As of January 1, 1978, the Commission has been authorized to process final and binding interest arbitration cases involving non-uniformed municipal employees and their employers.

From the description of Agency history record. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145776419