Computer Research Methods For Interest Arbitrations and WERC Cases

 

Third Annual Wisconsin Public Sector Labor Relations Conference

Alliant Energy Center -- Madison, Wisconsin -- May 3, 2007

Session G

 

Searching For The Truth – Or At Least A Helpful Cite

Computer Research Methods For Interest Arbitrations and WERC Cases

 

by Marshall L. Gratz

 Staff Attorney/Team Leader, WERC

 

Computer Requirements/Options

            Needed

                        -Windows or Mac computer

                        -Internet browser (Internet Explorer 5.0 and up or Firefox work well)

                        -Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 8 recommended)

                        -Internet connection (broadband improves research experience)

            Recommended

                        -WASB WERC Decisions Digest on CD-ROM (proprietary - 2002)

                        -CD drive

                        -WASB Decisions Subscription in hard copy (proprietary)

           

Formats of Available Computer Research Content

            Internet  (most on WERC website:   http://werc.wi.gov)

                        -HTML (e.g., most WERC website pages other than decisions/awards etc.)

                        -PDF (e.g., WERC website decisions/awards files)

                                    -Scanned (e.g., decisions/awards pre 1989, PA decisions pre 2003)

                                    -Keyed (e.g., more recent decisions/awards/PA decisions)

                        -RTF word processor (e.g., editable format for WERC forms)

            CD-ROM (proprietary) (WASB municipal/state decisions digest 1976-May 2002)

            Westlaw (proprietary) (e.g., WERC labor decisions 2006-present)

 

Content Attributes Useful for Searching

            Title (i.e., supercitation)

                        -labor relations decision -- complaint case -- employer name followed by

                Dec. No. 29094-A ( Nielsen, 12-29-98 ) (Findings, Conclusions. . .

                Dec. No. 29094-B ( WERC, 11-23-99 ) (Order Affirming in Part and . .

                Dec. No. 29094-C ( CirCt Brown, 10/05/00 ) (complaint)

                Dec. No. 29094-G ( CtApp, 1/29/02 ) (complaint)

                Dec. No. 29094-H ( SupCt, 3/12/02 ) (complaint)

 

-other types of labor relations decisions:

            Beloit School District, Dec. No. 11831 ( WERC, 5/8/73 ) (declaratory ruling)

                                    State of Wisconsin (DOA), Dec. No. 7984-D ( WERC, 8/9/68 ) (representation)

                                                City of Madison, Dec. No. 30009-B ( WERC, 9/19/01 ) (impasse resolution)

                                                Racine County, Dec. No. 17196-B ( WERC, 2/8/80 ) (mediation-arbitration)

                                                City of Appleton, Dec. No. 11597 ( WERC, 2/7/73 ) (police-fire interest arbitration)

 

                        -grievance award:

                                    Eggers Industries, Inc., WERC A-6230 ( Gallagher, 11/28/06 )

                                                City of Superior (Parks), WERC MA-9792 ( Shaw, 11-18-97 ) (Supplemental Award)

                                   

                        -interest award:

                                    City of Wisconsin Dells, Dec. No. 34567-A ( Zeidler, 4/88 ) (union)

                                                City of Madison (Laborers), Dec. No. 29993-A ( Bellman, 6-27-01 ) (employer)

                                                Appleton, City of (Police), Dec. No. 29488 ( LeRoy, 7-12-99 ) (issue-by-issue)

                                                Milwaukee, City of (Police), Dec. No. 26109-A ( Vernon, 5/22/90 ) (Conventional)

                       

                        -personnel appeal decision by Personnel Commission

                                    82-PC-ER-30-B
                                                90-0085-PC-ER-C
                                                37%92-0221-PC-ER-B

 

                        -personnel appeal decision by WERC

                                    Elmer v. DHFS, Dec. No. 31380-B ( WERC, 3/7/07 )

                                                Ryf v. OSER, Dec. No. 32025 ( WERC, 2/22/07 )
                                    Danielsen v. OSER and Smith v. OSER, Dec. Nos. 31977, 31978 ( WERC, 1/9/07 )40%

           

            URL (Internet address including filename)

                        -labor relations decisions: 

                                    -commission and examiner

                                                http://werc.wi.gov/decisions/12345-A.pdf

                                                http://werc.wi.gov/decisions/12345-B.pdf

                                    -circuit court

                                                http://werc.wi.gov/decisions/12345BC1.pdf

                                    -court of appeals

                                                http://werc.wi.gov/decisions/34567BA1.pdf

                                    -supreme court

                                                http://werc.wi.gov/decisions/12345BS1.pdf

 

                        -grievance awards:

                                    http://werc.wi.gov/grievance_awards/1234.pdf

                                                (filename number is at bottom of first and last award pages)

                       

                        -interest awards:  "werc.wi.gov/interest_awards" followed by:

                                    /int_pre-99_vol_1_of_2/int16554.pdf

                                    /int_pre-99_vol_2_of_2/int25631.pdf

                                    /mia_pre-99_vol_1_of_1/mia16185.pdf

                                    /int30096.pdf  (for awards issued 1999 on)

                                                ("int" filenames are general employee cases)

                                                ("mia" filenames are police-fire cases)

                       

                        -personnel appeals cases: "werc.wi.gov/personnel_appeals" followed by:

                                                /personnel_commission_1978-99/83-0077-PC-A.pdf

                                                /personnel_commission_1999-2002/83-0077-PC-A.pdf

                                    /werc_2003_on/pa31380-B.pdf

           

            Body text

                        -words

                        -phrases (including names)     

                        -caption information

                                    -party names

                                    -docket numbers, e.g., Case 123  No. 23456  MP-10876

                        -appearances -- representatives' names

                        -author -- e.g.:

                                    Herman Torosian, Chairman

                                    Daniel J. Nielsen, Examiner

                                    Coleen A. Burns, Arbitrator

                        -date of issuance

                        -citations

                                    -employer name, e.g., City of Milwaukee, Walworth County

                                    -decision number, e.g., Dec. No. 12345-C 

                                    -tribunal/author -- e.g., WERC, CirCt, CtApp, SupCt, Kerkman

                        -other typical document sub-heads -- e.g., Issues, Remedy, Memorandum

 

Basics for Using Ultraseek, Google and WisBar Search Engines

            For Ultraseek search engine searches of WERC website content:

                        -open the WERC website which is located at http://werc.wi.gov

                        -left click on a Search link near the top right corner of the opening page     

                        -replace "Enter your search terms here" with your search term or terms

                        -if searching for decision numbers, use lower case only

                        - press the Search button at the bottom left corner of the search screen

                        -scroll down to view the Search Results list of links to found documents

                        -follow one of those links to view the document associated with it

                        -locate particular word or phrase in the found document using browser's

                                       Find command (with Internet Explorer 7 and Reader 8) or using the

                                       Acrobat Reader binocular button (with earlier browsers and Readers)

                        -use the Acrobat Reader buttons rather than browser commands to print

                                       (printer picture), save (diskette picture), copy a portion of the text for

                                       pasting into a Word document (I+arrow or T+square button and then

                                       highlight text to be copied e.g. using mouse, then right click on

                                                   highlighted portion and choose a copy command).

                        -use your browser’s Back button to return to the list of Found Documents.

                        -for more detail and examples see separate attached outline 

                       

                        -strengths and weaknesses

-slower than Google in opening search screen and running searches

-high content inclusion reliability -- i.e., likely to find most hits

-optional summaries often reveal caption/opposing party in results

-allows easy combinations of URL, body text, and title searches

-allows easy combinations of word, phrase, name searches

-title hits are listed first in results list

-single line results show more on screen simultaneously

-no option for snippets in results list; open and find to view context

-date ordering option not fully effective

-decisions and awards only in PDF; copied text requires clean-up

-date range limits based on file creation date; so none before 1998

           

            For Google searches of WERC website content:

                        -follow same steps as above for Ultraseek search except left click on the

                                       corresponding "[G]" when initially selecting a search link

                                   

                        -strengths and weaknesses

                                    -fast search screen open and search responses

                                    -popular and familiar user interface

                                    -may find fewer hits than Ultraseek

                                    -archives updated less promptly/often than Ultraseek or WisBar

                                    -snippets in results list show 1st instance of search terms in context

                                    -offers rough cached HTML of PDF files, highlighting all hits

                                    -results ordered by relevance; title hits usually listed first

                                    -number range search permits rough date limitations

                                    -no option for date ordering of search results

                                                           

            For WisBar search engine searches of WisBar WERC and other archives:

                        -open the WERC website which is located at http://werc.wi.gov

                        -left click on a WisBar Search link on right side of the opening page           

                        -to view a calendar year case index (list), choose year and left click "Go"

                        -to search all years, left click either simple or advanced search

                        -choose database from "Court or Agency" dropdown

                        -enter search term or terms in "Keywords" field and left click "Go"

                        -scroll down to view the Search Results list of links to found documents

                        -follow one of those links to view the document associated with it

                        -or follow link in context snippet (if any) to open and find that linked term

                        -locate particular word or phrase in the found document same as Ultraseek

                                    -print, save, copy and same as noted re Ultraseek above.

                        -use your browser’s Back button to return to the list of Found Documents.

 

                        -strengths and weaknesses

                                    -fast responses to non-complex searches

                                    -some complex searches are very slow

                                    -content inclusion reliable but limited to July-1989 to present

                                    -court cases not included in WERC decisions archive 2006-present

                                    -indexes allow flexible searches of calendar year case lists

                                    -snippets in results list, but only in non-complex searches

                                    -snippets include link that opens document and finds search term

                                    -full HTML files provide easy copying/pasting

                                    -offers links to full PDF files for reliable viewing/printing

                                    -date ordering precise and reliable because based on date document issued

                                    -results ordered by employer name or date of issuance

                                    -relevance-based ordering of results not available

 

Available Research Content

            Labor relations disputes 

                        -Statutes and rules

                        -Manuals

                                    -Complaint examiner (current only as of early 1990's)

                                    -Representation examiner (current only as of early 1990's)

                                    -Election conduct

                        -Digests

                                    -WERC website

                                                -Private Sector 1939-1988

                                                -Muncipal Sector 1962-71, 1971-74

                                                -State Sector  1967-75

                                    -WASB CD-ROM

                                                -Municipal Sector 1976-May 2002

                                                -State Sector 1976-May 2002

                                    -WASB hard copy annual compilations for other years

                                   

                        -Decisions search (WERC examiners, commission and related court)

                                    -WERC website via Ultraseek (1971-present, municipal to 1962)

                                    -WERC website via Google (1971-present, municipal to 1962)

                                    -Wisbar website via WisBar (July 1989-present)

                                    -Westlaw (2006-present)

                        -Decisions lists

                                    -WERC website

                                    -WisBar index

                        -Wisconsin Court decisions and related resources

                                    -Supreme Court via WisBar (1993-present)

                                    -Court of Appeals via WisBar (1993-present)

                        -Other Internet resources

                                    -NLRB decisions and digest/index search (1992-present)

                       

            Grievance arbitration disputes

                        -Rules

                        -Manual for WERC-employed Grievance Arbitrators (as of early 1990's)

                        -Awards search

                                    -WERC website via Ultraseek (July 1989-present)

                                    -WERC website via Google (July 1989-present)

                                    -WisBar website via WisBar (July 1989-present)

                        -Awards lists

                                    -WERC website

                                    -WisBar index

                        -National Academy of Arbitrators Proceedings (1948-2004) index/search

 

            Interest arbitration disputes

                        -Statutes and Rules

                        -Ad Hoc Roster Arbitrator biographical information

                        -Awards search via Ultraseek (1971-present)

                        -Awards search via Google 1971-present)

                        -Issues Tables (1971-present)

                                    -general employee

                                    -police-fire

                        -Award lists (1971-present)

                        -Awards summaries (1989-94)

 

            -Personnel Appeals disputes

                        -Statutes and Rules

                        -Digest and case list (Personnel Commission 1978-99)

                        -PA decisions (selected Pers. Comm. 1978-2002; all WERC 2003-present)

                                    -search via Ultraseek

                                    -search via Google

                                               

Techniques for Using Available Content

            Browse

            Search (custom search links on WERC website limit searches to case types)

            Find (use Acrobat Reader find command when applicable, rather than browser's)

            Print (use Acrobat Reader print command when applicable, rather than browser's)

            Copy as text (HTML text retains formatting; PDF requires formatting/correction)

            Copy as graphic (pasted graphic is not editable as text)

            Save copy of file on hard drive

 

Research Problem Examples:

            statutes or rules applicable to a particular type of case

            case-handling procedures applicable to a particular type of case

            cases involving particular issues

                        -labor relations decisions

                        -grievance awards

                        -interest awards

                        -personnel appeals decisions

            cases involving particular party(ies) and/or representative(s)

            cases involving particular decisionmaker(s) and/or representative(s)

            cases reviewing an earlier decision (WASB hard copy case lists recommended)

            cases citing an earlier decision

            recent cases

            working around "file not found" errors

 

Additional Information Attached

 

(post-presentation addendum:)

Additional Information Available On-Line

[services and personnel] [statutes, rules and ethics codes] [case processing forms and guides] [case databases and digests] [news and publications] [links to other resources] [about this site]

[WERC Home]

[State of Wisconsin Home]

This page is a public domain communication of the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission. The URL of this page is {http://werc.wi.gov/computer_research_methods_for_interest_arbitrations_and_werc_cases.htm}. Last modified on 30 APR 2007. Comments, questions and suggestions.