Senate Bill 579 aims to expand collective bargaining rights for employees of the University of Wisconsin System, allowing most employees, including faculty and academic staff, to negotiate over wages, hours, and conditions of employment. Currently, public employers and employees are restricted from collective bargaining unless explicitly permitted by law. The bill introduces new provisions under subchapter VI of chapter 111, which will work in conjunction with existing laws governing collective bargaining, thereby enhancing the rights of university employees to organize and engage in negotiations.

The bill includes several amendments to existing statutes, notably adding references to subchapter VI alongside existing subchapters V and IV in various sections. For instance, it modifies sections related to the duties of the joint committee on employment relations, the approval of pay increases, and the definition of governmental bodies to include collective bargaining under the new subchapter. Additionally, it clarifies that salary setting and other employment-related decisions may be subject to collective bargaining agreements, thereby reinforcing the rights of employees represented by collective bargaining units. Overall, this legislation seeks to strengthen the framework for collective bargaining within the University of Wisconsin System, promoting fair labor practices and employee representation.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 7.33(4), 7.33, 13.111(2), 13.111, 16.50(3)(e), 16.50, 19.82(1), 19.82, 19.85(3), 19.85, 19.86, 20.425(1)(a), 20.425, 20.425(1)(i), 20.505(1)(ks), 20.505, 20.505(1)(kz), 20.917(3)(b), 20.917, 20.921(1)(a)2, 20.921, 20.923(6)(intro.), 20.923, 36.09(1)(j), 36.09, 40.02(25)(b)8, 40.02, 40.05(4g)(a)4, 40.05, 40.80(3), 40.80, 40.81(3), 40.81, 111.81(1), 111.81, 111.81(9g), 111.81(12m), 111.81(16), 111.825(5), 111.825