Yes to Raises, Yes to DEI
Capitol 2 E. Main St., Madison, Wisconsin 53703
media release: State employees will hold a rally calling for a pay raise on Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 4:45-6:00 pm outside the Wisconsin Capitol (State St. corner). Other demands include releasing the raise for UW employees and maintaining funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives at UW.
“Yes to raises, Yes to DEI” is the theme of the event, organized by members of AFSCME, Wisconsin Professional Employees Council (Local 4848 affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers), other unions, and their supporters.
Organizers are calling on the legislative committee JCOER to release raises for state agency and UW employees already approved in the state budget in early July, and included in the full Compensation Plan by the Department of Administration on July 31st. Release of the funds has been delayed by the Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER) which has not yet scheduled a meeting. Also Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (and Chair of JCOER) has proposed canceling the raise for UW employees unless the UW eliminates DEI programs.
Organizers say the proposed 4% and 2% pay adjustment over the biennium is less than inflation. The last across-the-board raise occurred in January 2023. Over the last 12 years, inflation has been roughly 35% while wages for state employees have grown by approximately 12%. Organizers link lagging pay to high vacancies and turnover. The State’s last Workforce Report identified over 5,700 vacant positions within state agencies, a vacancy rate of 17.7%.
Organizers express strong support for DEI programs.
And please sign the petition!
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