WI AB593

Grants collective bargaining rights over wages, hours, and conditions of employment to University of Wisconsin System faculty and academic staff, who are currently prohibited from bargaining collectively under state law

Creates 32 separate collective bargaining units organized by institution and employee type (faculty or academic staff), with UW-Madison faculty and academic staff each having their own unit, and other UW System institutions having separate units

Allows collective bargaining units to combine into larger units if a majority of employees in each unit vote to do so, and permits maintenance of membership agreements requiring dues deductions when voluntarily agreed to by employer and union

Prohibits strikes by covered employees and prohibits bargaining on certain topics including the UW System's statutory mission, academic freedom, amendments to the collective bargaining law, and health care coverage plan costs and design

Requires tentative agreements to be submitted to the Joint Committee on Employment Relations for approval and legislative action on provisions requiring statutory changes, with agreements required to coincide with the state fiscal year or biennium