MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Leaders of the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature withheld pay raises for Universities of Wisconsin workers whereas approving raises for different state staff on Tuesday in an ongoing combat over the varsity system’s variety, fairness and inclusion spending.
Republican Meeting Speaker , who co-chairs the Legislature’s employment relations committee, has promised to block pay raises for UW workers till the varsity system cuts its so-called DEI spending by $32 million.
“We’re solely doing half our job right this moment,” Democratic Senate Minority Chief Melissa Agard mentioned. “We’re denying pay will increase to half of our state workforce due to one particular person’s resistance to inclusion on our campuses.”
Whereas writing the finances in June, Republicans slashed UW’s funding by $32 million as a result of they estimated that is what the system’s 13 campuses put in direction of DEI efforts over two years. Democratic Gov. used his veto energy to avoid wasting 188 DEI positions on the college, however the funding minimize remained.
The finances handed by the Legislature and signed by Evers additionally included pay raises for state workers of 4% this yr and a pair of% subsequent yr. The worker relations committee, made up of legislative leaders and managed 6-2 by Republicans, permitted these raises on Tuesday for state staff apart from the college system’s roughly 36,000 full-time workers.
Vos mentioned Tuesday he was open to approving pay raises for UW workers if the varsity system gave up the ability to create its personal jobs, together with DEI roles. He mentioned he was planning to satisfy with UW officers later Tuesday to proceed negotiations.
“There may be one company in state authorities that’s allowed to create positions exterior of the legislative course of,” Vos mentioned, referring to UW. “After I discuss to folks, they don’t need some sort of ideological agenda.”
Committee member Sen. Howard Marklein, a Republican, broke away from Vos’ place. In an announcement after the vote, Marklein mentioned he was “very disenchanted” the UW pay will increase weren’t scheduled for a vote.
“The native workers on our campuses shouldn’t be penalized for coverage selections made by leaders of the college system,” he mentioned.
The combat in Wisconsin displays a broader cultural battle taking part in out throughout the nation over faculty variety initiatives. Republican Govs. Ron DeSantis in Florida and Greg Abbott in Texas each signed legal guidelines this yr banning the usage of variety, fairness and inclusion measures in scholar admissions and workers employment selections at faculties and universities. Similar bills were proposed in a couple of dozen Republican-led states.
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Hurt Venhuizen is a corps member for the Related Press/Report for America Statehouse Information Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit nationwide service program that locations journalists in native newsrooms to report on undercovered points.