Section 40.02. Qualifications for admission to roster.

  The roster shall be limited to individuals who are competent and willing to participate in grievance arbitration, interest arbitration and fact-finding. The qualifications used by the commission for admission to and continued service on its roster are as follows:

(1)   Eligibility requirements.

(a) Residency. Roster members shall maintain their principal place of residence in 1 of the following states: Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan or Minnesota. Maintenance of a mail box or mail delivery point is not sufficient to satisfy this requirement.

(b) Appointment acceptance. Roster members shall be willing to accept appointments in all of the following types of proceedings:

1. Fact-finding.

2. Contract grievance arbitration.

3. Interest arbitration.

(c) Neutral status. Roster members shall not engage in any employment or hold any title or office that conflicts with the role of a neutral in labor-management dispute resolution. Roster members shall not be, and shall not have been for at least 1 year, an advocate for public or private sector employees, employee organizations, employers or employer organizations. For purposes of this chapter, an "advocate" is a person who represents employers, labor organizations, or individuals as an employee, attorney, or consultant in labor relations matters, including to the following subjects:

1. Union representation and recognition.

2. Collective bargaining.

3. Equal employment opportunity.

4. Arbitration.

5. Unfair labor practices.

6. Labor-related litigation.

7. Wage and benefit administration.

8. Unemployment compensation.

9. Worker compensation.

10. Occupational health and safety standards.

11. Minimum wage.

12. Other labor standards matters.

(2)   Knowledge, skills and abilities, and qualifications. The knowledge, skills and abilities, and qualifications for roster members shall be as follows:

(a) Knowledge of labor relations concepts, principles and practices regarding the following:

1. Contract administration and negotiations.

2. Interest arbitration and grievance arbitration.

3. Labor laws.

4. Local government laws.

5. Related matters.

(b) Acceptability to parties in Wisconsin labor relations disputes.

(c) Impartiality, meaning lack of any real or apparent conflict of interest, and ability to render neutral decisions.

(d) Knowledge of hearing procedures, ability to conduct hearings and to develop an accurate record of proceedings.

(e) Ability to analyze testimony and exhibits and to render competent, well-reasoned and accurate decisions.

(f) Knowledge of, and compliance with, the ethical standards and procedures set forth in the Code of Professional Responsibility for Arbitrators of Labor-Management Disputes as approved and amended from time to time by the National Academy of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The Code, as amended, is available in electronic form on the commission website and in paper form on request from the commission.

(g) Ability to produce written decisions within reasonable time limits. Roster members are encouraged to render awards and fact-finding recommendations not later than 60 days from the date of closing of the record as determined by the roster member, unless otherwise agreed by the parties or specified by law.

(h) Knowledge of relevant commission rules and policies.

(i) General knowledge of public sector finance and the ability to calculate costs of wages and fringe benefits.

(j) Ability to effectively apply mediation techniques.

(k) High moral character and integrity.

(3)   Experience.

(a) As a neutral. Individuals who have functioned as a labor relations neutral for at least 8 years may apply for admission to the ad hoc arbitrator roster. The applicants shall provide 8 arbitration awards, including 2 interest arbitration awards, if the applicant has issued interest awards, or other writing samples. These experience requirements may be waived or reduced if the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates sufficient knowledge and experience in labor law and labor relations, along with proficient writing skills.

(b) As an advocate. Individuals who have functioned as labor relations advocates for at least 8 years may apply for admission to the roster provided that at the time of application the applicant has not been a labor relations advocate for at least 1 year. Ten writing samples such as briefs or reports shall be submitted, and applicants may be requested to write 8 practice arbitration awards, including up to 2 interest arbitration awards, based on facts provided by the commission. The award writing requirement may be waived or reduced if the applicant demonstrates sufficient knowledge and experience in labor law and labor relations, along with proficient writing skills.

(c) As an academic. Individuals who have taught accredited labor relations courses or accredited labor relations-related courses on the college level for at least 8 years may apply for admission to the roster. Ten writing samples, such as awards, reports or research papers, shall be submitted. The applicants may be requested to write 8 practice arbitration awards, 4 of which shall be interest arbitration awards. This requirement may be waived or reduced if the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates sufficient knowledge and experience in labor law and labor relations, and proficient writing skills.

(d) Combination of neutral, advocate or academic experience. The commission may consider any combination of experience identified in pars. (a) to (c) and other relevant experience.

(e) Training program participants. Notwithstanding pars. (a) to (d) , any person may apply for admission to the ad hoc roster following successful completion of training under s. 111.71 (5) , Stats. Applicants for training may be referred to an evaluator selected by the commission for an assessment of skills and abilities reasonably required in order to function successfully as a neutral in labor relations dispute resolution. A program may be designed to provide appropriate training to address applicants' identified needs. The applicant may be charged a reasonable fee for participation in the training. The fee shall reflect preparation and actual training time reasonably expended on behalf of an applicant.

(4)   References. Applicants for admission to the roster shall supply the names, addresses and phone numbers of at least six professional references, 3 of which shall be labor organization references and 3 of which shall be employer references.

History: CR 02-037 : cr. Register June 2006 No. 606 , eff. 7-1-06.