The PSS bargaining team met with the State's negotiators again today. We were given an ultimatum to accept their conditions on all remaining issues. The primary area of contention involves the employer's treatment of union stewards and officers.

Against that backdrop, we are now compelled to distribute the March 28, 2006 Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC) decision on our Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) case. We had been keeping a low profile on that matter, while attempting to comply with the Court order to negotiate a settlement.

The Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission Examiner determined that the employer (Department of Corrections and Office of State Employment Relations) broke the law by their hostile interference with our union.

The entire decision is available below.

The union has now prevailed on four consecutive WERC decisions, regarding the employers' unlawful conduct toward Local 2748. Despite losing every case so far, the employer persists in their illegal behavior.

Further proceedings in front of the WERC are scheduled for May 9th and 10th, concerning additional allegations of illegal conduct by the Department of Corrections. As before, we are very confident that the Court will rule in our favor.

In an effort to bring closure to negotiations for a new Master Agreement, Council 24 and Local 2748 have made a strong attempt to compromise on the remaining issues. This must, of course, be done in a manner that preserves the right of our union to exist and to operate without employer interference.

The employer's terms are for us to set aside the recent WERC decision, dismiss the pending ULP case scheduled for next week, and give up our right to grieve or to access the labor court (WERC) in the future concerning these matters. Unbelievable!

It looks like we are in for a fight. We will need all of your help soon, please be ready.

In Solidarity,
Tom Corcoran
Georgette Gehring
Amy Huss
Jennifer Merlin
Laura Welle

March 28, 2006 ULP Decision (PDF)