In a move spearheaded by a Republican-dominated legislative committee, a 6% salary hike for University of Wisconsin (UW) employees is on track for approval next Tuesday, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. This development comes in the wake of the UW system’s recent commitment to reassign certain diversity positions, marking a key element of a broader agreement with lawmakers. The accord aims to unlock approximately $800 million in state aid.
Although the pay raises had already been earmarked in the state budget signed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in July, a legislative committee’s final authorization was required, distinguishing it from most provisions in the two-year spending plan.
Back in October, the committee sanctioned a 6% salary boost over the next two years for the majority of state workers. However, raises for university staff were withheld at the insistence of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, who demanded the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion positions within the UW System.
In a significant turn of events on Wednesday, the UW Board of Regents agreed to comply with this demand as part of an agreement with legislative Republicans. The agreement paves the way for raises affecting approximately 35,000 UW System employees, as well as the allocation of $740 million for infrastructure spending. Additionally, $32 million in state aid, previously withheld by the Legislature’s budget committee due to objections to the System’s DEI programming, will now be released.
Under the terms of the agreement, criticized by Democrats, the UW–Madison student government, and members of the Legislature’s Black Caucus as discriminatory, the UW System will undergo a restructuring of a third of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) workforce. This restructuring involves the reclassification of around 43 roles as “student success” positions. While the specific alterations to their responsibilities under the new titles remain unclear, UW System President Jay Rothman said that no jobs would be lost. The restructuring is scheduled to unfold over the next two academic years, according to Rothman.
