Section 32.15. Proceedings before the arbitrator.

 

(1)   Notice of Arbitration hearing. The arbitrator shall within 10 days of his or her formal appointment, establish the date, time and place for the arbitration hearing and shall issue and serve upon the parties, as set forth in s. ERC 10.07 , a notice of hearing specifying the date, time and a place within the jurisdiction of the municipal employer involved where the hearing shall be held. The hearing date shall not fall within the 10-day period. The arbitration hearing shall be open to the public.

(2)   Withdrawal of final offers. The arbitrator shall notify the parties of the date, predating the arbitration hearing date, by which a party shall provide written notice to the arbitrator, the other party, and the commission that the party is withdrawing its final offer. If both parties timely withdraw their final offers and mutually agreed upon offer modifications, and the exclusive representative gives 10 days written notice to the municipal employer and the commission of its intent to strike, the commission shall endeavor to mediate the dispute.

(3)   Petition for public hearing. Any 5 citizens of the jurisdiction served by the municipal employer involved may, within 10 days after the appointment of the arbitrator, file a request in writing with the commission, as set forth in s. ERC 10.07 , that a public hearing be convened prior to the arbitration hearing. A request shall be treated as a petition within the meaning of s. 111.70 (4) (cm) 6. b. , Stats. The signers shall include their addresses and a statement that they are citizens of the jurisdiction served by the municipal employer involved. Upon receipt of the request, the commission shall serve a copy on both the parties and the arbitrator.

(4)   Notice of public hearing. Upon receipt of a citizen petition and after the arbitration hearing has been scheduled by the arbitrator, the municipal employer involved shall notify the public, in the manner set forth in s. ERC 32.14 (3) , that a public hearing shall be convened prior to the arbitration hearing. The notice shall identify the parties involved and shall set forth the date, time and place of the hearing. Copies of the notice shall be served by the municipal employer, as set forth in s. ERC 10.07 , on the collective bargaining representative involved, on the arbitrator, and the commission.

(5)   Purpose of public hearing. The public hearing shall be for the purpose of providing the opportunity for both parties to explain or present supporting arguments for their positions and to provide an opportunity to members of the public to offer their comments and suggestions.

(6)   Procedure in public hearing. The arbitrator shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the public hearing is orderly and that it does not result in undue delay or cost to the parties. The arbitrator may require members of the public who desire to offer comments and suggestions to register; may determine the sequence in which the parties and the members of the public shall be heard; and may determine when the hearing shall be terminated.

(7)   Transcripts of public hearing. Either party or any person participating in the public hearing may make their own arrangements to have a transcript of the public hearing prepared at their own expense. Arbitration proceedings shall not be delayed for the purpose of awaiting the preparation of a transcript of the public hearing. If the public hearing is recorded or transcribed, the arbitrator shall be furnished a copy upon request.

(8)   Scope of arbitration hearing. The arbitration hearing shall be public and for the purpose of gathering information which shall assist the arbitrator in issuing a compulsory and final and binding arbitration award selecting the final offer and mutually agreed upon offer modifications, of either party. In making that offer selection in cases involving school district employees, the arbitrator shall give weight to the factors set forth in s. 111.70 (4) (cm) 7r. , Stats., and the parties shall be prepared to present evidence and argument relative to the factors involved. In making that offer selection in cases subject to this chapter not involving school district employees, the arbitrator shall give weight to the factors set forth in s. 111.70 (4) (cm) 7. , 7g. and 7r. , Stats., and the parties shall be prepared to present evidence and argument relative to the factors involved. Except as otherwise required by commission rules, proceedings before the arbitrator shall also be conducted in accordance 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.

(9)   Arbitration hearing procedure. Hearings shall be within the control of the arbitrator and shall be as expeditious as the nature of the dispute shall allow. In conducting the hearing, the arbitrator has the power to do any of the following:

(a) Administer oaths and affirmations.

(b) Issue subpoenas in the name of the commission.

(c) Rule on offers of proof and receive relevant evidence.

(d) Regulate the course of the arbitration hearing.

(e) Dispose of procedural requests and similar matters.

(10)   Waiver of hearing and brief. With the consent of the arbitrator, the parties may agree to waive the convening of a formal hearing or the filing of briefs, or both.

(11)   Mediation. Nothing in this chapter or s. 111.70 (4) (cm) , Stats., precludes the parties from mutually agreeing during arbitration to have the arbitrator or the commission or both attempt to mediate the dispute at any time prior to the issuance of an award, but no party shall be obligated to participate in mediation or to continue to participate in mediation. Any mediation by the arbitrator shall not be open to the public unless mutually agreed by the parties or their representatives. At the joint request of the parties, the arbitrator may issue a consent award ordering implementation of the terms of a written voluntary agreement between the parties resolving part or all of the dispute involved.

(12)   Issuance of award.

(a) How issued. The arbitrator shall issue the arbitration award in writing as expeditiously as possible following the receipt of final arguments or briefs, if any. If the award is issued by a tripartite panel, each panel member shall sign the award, either affirming or dissenting. After the award is signed, a copy of the award and a statement of the arbitrator's fees and expenses shall be submitted immediately to the commission as set forth in s. ERC 10.06 (1) and to the parties as set forth in s. ERC 10.07 .

(b) Public document when issued. When received by the commission, interest awards shall be made available to the public. Copies may be purchased by the public from the commission's Madison office and may also be available on the commission website or in other commission publications.

(c) Timeliness standards and procedures. Arbitrators who repeatedly or egregiously fail to issue their decision within 60 days following receipt of final arguments or briefs, if any, shall be subject to removal from the commission's roster of arbitrators and fact finders following notice and an opportunity to be heard as provided in s. ERC 40.04 . Reinstatement to the list may be granted where the commission is satisfied that the individual shall be able to consistently issue timely awards under s. 111.70 (4) (cm) 6. d. , Stats. Unless informal communications satisfy the commission that there is good cause not to do so, an arbitrator's issuance of one or more s. 111.70 (4) (cm) 6. d. , Stats., awards in a calendar year that are untimely by a total of more than thirty (30) days shall be a sufficient basis for convening a hearing to determine whether the arbitrator has "repeatedly" or "egregiously" failed to issue timely s. 111.70 (4) (cm) 6. d. , Stats., awards.

(13)   Costs. The fees and expenses of the arbitrator including the conduct of the public hearing, arbitration hearings, the rental of hearing rooms, and the preparation of the award, shall be shared equally by the parties. The fees and expenses charged by the arbitrator shall not exceed those described in the arbitrator's biographical information and fee statement on file with the commission at the time the arbitrator's name was supplied to the parties by the commission. Costs of subpoenas and witness fees shall be paid by the party requesting the subpoena or witness. Fees and expenses charged by the reporter, if any, shall be shared equally by the parties if both parties have agreed that the hearing be transcribed. If only one party desires a transcript, that party is solely responsible for the fees and expenses charged by the reporter and shall provide a copy of the transcript to the arbitrator. The fees and expenses of arbitrators selected by one of the parties to serve on a tripartite panel shall be paid by the party making the selection.

History: CR 02-037 : cr. Register June 2006 No. 606 , eff. 7-1-06; CR 10-019 : am. (8) Register June 2010 No. 654 , eff. 7-1-10.

Note

Arbitrators may obtain appropriate subpoena forms from the commission's Madison office. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1