Yes to raises, Yes to DEI

On July 5th, the 2023-2025 Wisconsin State Biennial Budget was signed. This budget included the usual across-the-board adjustment for state and University of Wisconsin employees. The amount approved was 4% this year and 2% next year. But before these wage adjustments have even been implemented, they have come under attack and are under threat of being removed for university workers.

While the State Budget allocates funding for wages, the Compensation Plan (“Comp Plan”) is what actually implements those changes for state and UW employees. The Comp Plan requires approval from the Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER). JCOER received the proposed plan from the Department of Administration on July 31st but has yet to even schedule a meeting on the topic. Now, Rep. Robin Vos, Speaker of the Assembly and Chair of JCOER, has said that he will block the wage adjustments for University of Wisconsin employees unless the university system cuts its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

We oppose the delays in pay adjustments and we oppose any attempts to cut funding for DEI programs.

In the State’s last Workforce Report, we saw that there were over 5,700 vacant positions within state agencies, a vacancy rate of 17.7%. While base-wage improvements alone cannot solve this, they are necessary to address our staffing and retention problems. Over the last 12 years, inflation has been roughly 35% while wages for state employees have grown by only approximately 12%. The proposed 4% and 2% pay adjustments will be less than inflation but are desperately needed by the people who make our public services work. The budget has passed; now is time to approve the pay adjustments.

We believe that conscious, deliberate efforts to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplaces is a strength and is needed to recruit the best talent to public programs and to ensure a just society. It is essential that our workplaces are infused with the values of democracy in order to serve the public properly. Welcoming and supportive workplaces allow all workers to feel respected and thrive at their work. As public servants, we work with everyone across the state, and it is essential that all Wisconsin residents have access to the services and programs that they need. DEI initiatives, throughout the University System and across State Agencies, enable workers to succeed and residents to succeed.

A copy of this petition will be sent to members of the Joint Committee on Employment Relations and to the Governor’s Office.