Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 111.02 (2026)
Definitions
✓ current as of July 2026
Find cases:
SyfertCases citing this section
WI-LEGdocs.legis.wisconsin.gov
JustiaChapter on Justia
CornellLII Search
CasesGoogle Scholar
111.02(1)(1) “All-union agreement” means an agreement between an employer and the representative of the employer’s employees in a collective bargaining unit whereby all or any of the employees in such unit are required to be members of a single labor organization.
111.02(2)(2) “Collective bargaining” means the negotiation by an employer and a majority of the employer’s employees in a collective bargaining unit, or their representatives, concerning representation or terms and conditions of employment of such employees, in a mutually genuine effort to reach an agreement with reference to the subject under negotiation.
111.02(3)(3) “Collective bargaining unit” means all of the employees of one employer, employed within the state, except that where a majority of the employees engaged in a single craft, division, department or plant have voted by secret ballot as provided in s. 111.05 (2) to constitute such group a separate bargaining unit they shall be so considered, but, in appropriate cases, and to aid in the more efficient administration of this subchapter, the commission may find, where agreeable to all parties affected in any way thereby, an industry, trade or business comprising more than one employer in an association in any geographical area to be a “collective bargaining unit”. A collective bargaining unit thus established by the commission shall be subject to all rights by termination or modification given by this subchapter in reference to collective bargaining units otherwise established under this subchapter. Two or more collective bargaining units may bargain collectively through the same representative where a majority of the employees in each separate unit have voted by secret ballot as provided in s. 111.05 (2) so to do.
111.02(5)(5) The term “election” shall mean a proceeding in which the employees in a collective bargaining unit cast a secret ballot for collective bargaining representatives or for any other purpose specified in this subchapter and shall include elections conducted by the commission, or, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, by any tribunal having competent jurisdiction or whose jurisdiction was accepted by the parties.
111.02(6)(a)(a) “Employee” shall include any person, other than an independent contractor, working for another for hire in the state of Wisconsin in a nonconfidential, nonmanagerial, nonexecutive and nonsupervisory capacity, and shall not be limited to the employees of a particular employer unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
111.02(6)(b)(b) “Employee” shall include any individual whose work has ceased solely as a consequence of or in connection with any current labor dispute or because of any unfair labor practice on the part of an employer and who has not:
111.02(6)(b)1.1. Refused or failed to return to work upon the final disposition of a labor dispute or a charge of an unfair labor practice by a tribunal having competent jurisdiction of the same or whose jurisdiction was accepted by the employee or the employee’s representative;
111.02(6)(b)2.2. Been found to have committed or to have been a party to any unfair labor practice hereunder;
111.02(6)(b)4.4. Been absent from his or her employment for a substantial period of time during which reasonable expectancy of settlement has ceased (except by an employer’s unlawful refusal to bargain) and whose place has been filled by another engaged in the regular manner for an indefinite or protracted period and not merely for the duration of a strike or lockout.
111.02(6)(c)(c) “Employee” shall not include any individual employed in the domestic service of a family or person at the person’s home or any individual employed by his or her parent or spouse or any employee who is subject to the federal railway labor act.
111.02(7)(a)(a) “Employer” means a person who engages the services of an employee, and includes a person acting on behalf of an employer within the scope of his or her authority, express or implied.
111.02(7)(b)2.2. Any labor organization or anyone acting in behalf of such organization other than when it is acting as an employer in fact.
111.02(8)(8) The term “jurisdictional strike” shall mean a strike growing out of a dispute between 2 or more employees or representatives of employees as to the appropriate unit for collective bargaining, or as to which representative is entitled to act as collective bargaining representative, or as to whether employees represented by one or the other representative are entitled to perform particular work.
111.02(9)(9) The term “labor dispute” means any controversy between an employer and the majority of the employer’s employees in a collective bargaining unit concerning the right or process or details of collective bargaining or the designation of representatives. Any organization with which either the employer or such majority is affiliated may be considered a party to the labor dispute.
111.02(9g)(9g) “Labor organization” means any employee organization in which employees participate and that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of engaging in collective bargaining with any employer concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, hours, benefits, or other terms or conditions of employment.
111.02(10)(10) The term “person” includes one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, corporations, limited liability companies, legal representatives, trustees or receivers.
111.02(11)(11) The term “representative” includes any person chosen by an employee to represent the employee.
111.02(12)(12) The term “secondary boycott” shall include combining or conspiring to cause or threaten to cause injury to a person with whom no labor dispute exists in order to bring that person, against that person’s will, into a concerted plan to coerce or inflict damage upon another, whether by:
111.02(12)(c)(c) Refusing to handle, install, use or work on particular materials, equipment or supplies; or
111.02(13)(13) The term “unfair labor practice” means any unfair labor practice as defined in s. 111.06.
111.02 HistoryHistory: 1979 c. 89; 1983 a. 189; 1993 a. 112, 492; 1995 a. 27, 225; 1999 a. 65, 83; 2009 a. 28, 185; 2011 a. 10; 2015 a. 1.
111.02 AnnotationThe University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority is not required to engage in collective bargaining under the Employment Peace Act, subch. I of ch. 111. Service Employees International Union Healthcare Wisconsin v. WERC, 2025 WI 29, 416 Wis. 2d 688, 22 N.W.3d 876, 24-0717.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1941–2025 · leading case: Serv. Employees Int'l Union Healthcare Wisconsin v. Wisconsin Emp. Relations Comm'n, 2025 WI 29 (Wis. 2025).
Serv. Employees Int'l Union Healthcare Wisconsin v. Wisconsin Emp. Relations Comm'n, 2025 WI 29 (Wis. 2025). “§§ 111.02–111.19 (1941–42). 3 MERA is found in WIS.”
German v. Wisconsin Dep't of Transp., 2000 WI 62 (Wis. 2000). “See Wis. Stat. § 111.02 (7) ("The term `employer' means a person who engages the services of an employe.”
Bd. of Sch. Directors v. Wisconsin Emp. Relations Comm'n, 168 N.W.2d 92 (Wis. 1969). “The provision directs the Board to determine questions of representation by following, insofar as applicable, the proceedings outlined in sections 111.02 (6) and 111.05 which govern representation questions in private employment.”
Unified Sch. Dist. No. 1 v. Wisconsin Emp. Relations Comm'n, 259 N.W.2d 724 (Wis. 1977). “) Sec. 111.02(5), Stats. In municipal employment relations collective bargaining is defined by sec.”
Int'l Ass'n of Machinists Dist. 10 v. State, 2017 WI App 66 (Wis. Ct. App. 2017). “Wisconsin's duty of fair representation requires the Unions to provide services—but it does so only when the union is acting as the exclusive bargaining representative for employees in a bargaining unit.”
State ex rel. Teaching Assistants Ass'n v. Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, 292 N.W.2d 657 (Wis. Ct. App. 1980). “Section 111.02(2), Stats., expressly excludes the state or its political subdivisions from the definition of employers covered by the act.”
Milwaukee Dist. Council 48 v. Milwaukee Sewerage Comm'n, 321 N.W.2d 309 (Wis. Ct. App. 1982). “178, Laws of 1977, The court cited sec. 111.02(2), Stats., as support for its statement that sec.”
Ray-O-Vac Co. v. Wisconsin Emp. Relations Bd., 23 N.W.2d 489 (Wis. 1946). “The solution of the question as to what constitutes a proper collective-bargaining unit under section 111.02 (6) must necessarily involve the exercise of judgment and discretion.”
Hotel & Restaurant Employees' Int'l All., Local No. 122 v. Wisconsin Emp. Relations Bd., 236 Wis. 329 (Wis. 1941). “Sec. 111.02, Stats. 1939, defines certain terms used in the chapter: “(5) ‘Collective bargaining’ is the negotiating by an employer and a majority of his employees in a collective-bargaining unit (or their representatives) concerning representation or terms and conditions of…”
Dairy Employees Indep. Union v. Wisconsin Emp. Relations Bd., 55 N.W.2d 3 (Wis. 1952). “05 (2) “Whenever a question arises concerning the determination of a collective-bargaining unit as defined in section 111.02 (6), it shall be determined by secret ballot, and the board, upon request, shall cause the ballot to be taken in such manner as to show separately the…”
St. Ex Rel. Teach. Assts. v. Wis.-Madison Univ., 292 N.W.2d 657 (Wis. Ct. App. 1980). “[18] Section 111.02 (2), Stats., expressly excludes the state or its political subdivisions from the definition of employers covered by the act.”
— Wis. Stat. § 111.02(10) — 1 case
Serv. Employees Int'l Union Healthcare Wisconsin v. Wisconsin Emp. Relations Comm'n, 2025 WI 29 (Wis. 2025). “§§ 111.02–111.19 (1941–42). 3 MERA is found in WIS.”
— Wis. Stat. § 111.02(2) — 2 cases
State ex rel. Teaching Assistants Ass'n v. Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, 292 N.W.2d 657 (Wis. Ct. App. 1980). “Section 111.02(2), Stats., expressly excludes the state or its political subdivisions from the definition of employers covered by the act.”
Milwaukee Dist. Council 48 v. Milwaukee Sewerage Comm'n, 321 N.W.2d 309 (Wis. Ct. App. 1982). “178, Laws of 1977, The court cited sec. 111.02(2), Stats., as support for its statement that sec.”
— Wis. Stat. § 111.02(5) — 1 case
Unified Sch. Dist. No. 1 v. Wisconsin Emp. Relations Comm'n, 259 N.W.2d 724 (Wis. 1977). “) Sec. 111.02(5), Stats. In municipal employment relations collective bargaining is defined by sec.”
— Wis. Stat. § 111.02(7) — 1 case
Serv. Employees Int'l Union Healthcare Wisconsin v. Wisconsin Emp. Relations Comm'n, 2025 WI 29 (Wis. 2025). “§§ 111.02–111.19 (1941–42). 3 MERA is found in WIS.”
— Wis. Stat. § 111.02(7)(a) — 1 case
Serv. Employees Int'l Union Healthcare Wisconsin v. Wisconsin Emp. Relations Comm'n, 2025 WI 29 (Wis. 2025). “§§ 111.02–111.19 (1941–42). 3 MERA is found in WIS.”
— Wis. Stat. § 111.02(7)(b) — 1 case
Serv. Employees Int'l Union Healthcare Wisconsin v. Wisconsin Emp. Relations Comm'n, 2025 WI 29 (Wis. 2025). “§§ 111.02–111.19 (1941–42). 3 MERA is found in WIS.”
— Wis. Stat. § 111.02(9g) — 1 case
Int'l Ass'n of Machinists Dist. 10 v. State, 2017 WI App 66 (Wis. Ct. App. 2017). “Wisconsin's duty of fair representation requires the Unions to provide services—but it does so only when the union is acting as the exclusive bargaining representative for employees in a bargaining unit.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.