Wisconsin Administrative Code
Employment Relations Commission
ERC 30-39 - Municipal Sector Interest Dispute Resolution Processes
Chapter ERC 32 - Collective bargaining and interest arbitration in municipal sector disputes not involving law enforcement or fire fighting employees
Section ERC 32.09 - Informal investigation or formal hearing

(1) PURPOSE. The purpose of the investigation shall be to determine whether the parties are deadlocked in their negotiations after a reasonable period of negotiation. If it is determined that the parties are deadlocked, the commission or investigator shall obtain the single final offers of the parties containing their final proposals on issues in dispute, and shall obtain a stipulation signed by the parties on all matters agreed upon to be included in the new or amended collective bargaining agreement. During the informal investigation or formal hearing, the commission or investigator may engage in an effort to mediate the dispute.

(2) INFORMAL INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE. If an informal investigation is conducted, the commission or investigator shall, after conferring with the parties, set a date, time and place for the conduct of the informal investigation and shall notify the parties of those arrangements in writing. The informal investigation may be adjourned or continued as the commission or investigator deems necessary. During the investigation the commission or investigator may meet jointly or separately with the parties or otherwise communicate with one or both of the parties, for the purposes described in sub. (1). Prior to the close of the investigation the investigator shall obtain in writing the final offers of the parties on the issues in dispute and a stipulation in writing on all matters agreed upon to be included in the new or amended collective bargaining agreement. The investigator shall also obtain each party's position regarding authorization of inclusion of nonresidents of Wisconsin on the arbitration panel to be submitted by the commission. If, at the time of the exchange of final offers or during any additional time permitted by the investigator, no objection is raised that either final offer contains a proposal relating to a non-mandatory subject of bargaining, the commission or investigator shall serve the parties as set forth in s. ERC 10.07, a written notice that the investigation is closed. The commission or investigator shall not close the investigation until the commission or investigator is satisfied that neither party, having knowledge of the content of the final offer of the other party, would amend any proposal contained in its final offer and that both final offers conform to the requirements of s. ERC 32.10(2). If a party fails to submit a single ultimate final offer within the time prescribed by the commission or investigator, the commission or investigator shall close the investigation based on the last written position of the party. Following the close of the investigation the investigator shall report the findings to the commission, either orally or in writing, as the commission may direct, and at the same time transmit to the commission the final offers and the stipulation received from the parties. The commission investigator shall also notify the commission whether both parties have agreed to authorize the commission to include one or more nonresidents of Wisconsin on the arbitration panel to be submitted in the matter.

(3) FORMAL HEARING PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE. If a formal investigation is conducted, the commission or investigator, following communication with the parties, shall set a date, time and place for the conduct of the formal hearing and notify the parties by formal notice. The formal hearing may be adjourned or continued in the discretion of the commission or investigator. Hearing practice and procedure shall be as set forth in ss. ERC 18.06 to 18.08, except that the purpose and scope of the hearing shall be limited to establishing the facts needed to determine whether, after a reasonable period of negotiation, the parties are deadlocked. Prior to the close of the hearing the commission or investigator shall obtain and exchange the single ultimate final offers, stipulation of agreed upon items and positions concerning non-resident arbitrators in the manner set forth in sub. (2). If a party fails to submit a single ultimate final offer within the time prescribed by the commission or investigator, the commission or investigator shall close the investigation based on the last written position of the party.