The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is a State agency that investigates and handles not only unemployment claims, but also claims for underpayment or unpayment of wages by an employer.  It has a website with an fillable form to electronically file wage claim with the DWD when an employee believes they were not paid as agreed.

Once an employee files a claim, the DWD states that there is statutory protection against retaliation by the employer for filing the claim. A DWD investigator will be assigned. If multiple complaints are filed against a certain employer, claims may be consolidated with one investigator for handling. The DWD has advised that there is no fee for filing a claim, and a lawyer is not required. However, a claimant does have responsibility for providing documentation to support their claim for underpayment of wages. If you are a Local 212 member, we can provide some general (non-legal) advice and/or answer questions to the best of our ability. However, Local 212 cannot take on responsibility for pursuing your claim on your behalf and will not pay the legal fees (or any other costs) should an employee choose to consult or use a lawyer.

This is the website for the DWD wage claim office: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/LSISComplaint/Complaint/Index

You will need the following login:

  1. Create a new (or utilize your existing) “MyWisconsin ID”  login for state services. This is one login for many State services, so you may already have a login or need to create another one. Link to create a login: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/mywisconsinid/registration.htm

    You will need to file an electronic claim (or go to their website to obtain information about filing a paper claim). To do so:

  2. Create a new (or utilize your existing) “MyWisconsin ID”  login for state services. This is one login for many State services, so you may already have a login or need to create another one. Link to create a login: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/mywisconsinid/registration.htm . For IT help for creating or resetting a login call the State of Wisconsin at: 608-471-6667.

  3. Go to the DWD website for wage claims. Have your supporting documentation ready to upload, as the site times out after 30 minutes. https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/LSISComplaint/Complaint/Index

  4. Enter your personal information, using your personal email and phone.

  5. Select that the complaint is for “Unpaid Wages”

  6. On the Violations page, Select that the complaint is for “Unpaid Wages”. Enter the total amount of wages (before any deductions) that you believe you are owed. Also select the unpaid hours of work box, and enter the first day of the first pay period for the pay advice for your summer work. Enter the last day of the last pay period for the last pay advice for your summer work.

  7. We do NOT have a union contract (as a result of Act 10 circa 2011). Be sure to check the box for “No” Union Contract.

  8. Put in the dates for the start and end of your summer assignments

  9. Put in the full hourly rate that you believe you should have been paid. This is typically your hourly pay during the spring semester. Find your May pay advice in Self Service that shows your full pay rate. Then, calculate and enter in the popup box the pay you have been shorted.  Typically, you can calculate the pay you were shorted by:  your total hours paid for your summer work x $ full hourly rate x 7%.   If you do not yet know your full hours of pay you will be paid (due to one more pay period pending), then estimate your total summer hours.

  10. For the job duties question, a simple description of job duties like “Instructor” should be sufficient. We recommend using the 700 W. State Street Milwaukee address (the official address for MATC) as the address of the Employer.

  11. There is a box to click to view the DWD’s instructions, FAQs and get more information. You are not required to view that information, but it may be helpful.

  12. Supporting documentation!

    • We recommend that you attach your pay advice showing your May hourly rate, and then all pay advices you have received so far this summer. Consider writing a short statement that covers the following information, making it personal to you and filling in the correct information where there are “XXX”s. The DWD provides a place to upload supporting documentation. Consider writing and uploading a statement in support of your claim. An example of such a statement might include the following:

    • I am a Part-Time Faculty employee at Milwaukee Area Technical College, and have been employed there since approximately XXX date.

    • My pay rate for the spring semester of 2025 was $xxx/hour.

    • The College assigned me to teach an XXX- week course (or courses) this summer.

    • I am part of what MATC calls the “New Part-Time Faculty Progression and Pay” compensation system at the College.

    • The College committed, in writing, that the summer hourly pay rate would be at the same hourly rate as during the school year. I was never advised that the pay rate would be different than my spring pay rate before starting this assignment.

    • My first paycheck was paid on XXX date; the pay rate was $XXX/hour, which appears to be a 7% reduction in pay.

    • I have been advised that individuals have challenged this pay reduction (or I have inquired about this pay reduction), and the College has refused to honor its stated commitment to pay us our full hourly pay rate for this summer work.

    • I am seeking the difference in pay between my full hourly rate and the rate paid by the College for this summer assignment.

    • I relied on the College’s commitment to pay the full hourly rate in taking this teaching assignment this summer.

    • I am providing documentation where the College committed in writing to pay the full hourly rate for summer teaching.

  13. Consider uploading documentation to support your DWD claim. This could include the College's new pay program descriptions where it made the commitment not to reduce summer pay. This additional supporting documentation is optional, but is strongly recommended and might be requested later by the investigator. The PT Faculty Information tab of the Local 212 site includes helpful documentation which was provided to PTF entering the new pay system. This documentation was downloaded from the myMATC portal. The FAQs have been recently changed by College administration, so the information is provided as it existed before those changes.

Please notify Local 212 that you have filed a claim. Once five or more claims have been filed, the claims may be assigned to one investigator at the Agency. We also may be able to answer questions that may arise after you file a claim. Again, please note that Local 212 cannot provide funds to pay an attorney or any costs of filing, and cannot retain an attorney on your behalf.