The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature has made the decision to withhold pay raises for employees of the University of Wisconsin, while simultaneously approving raises for other state workers. This move comes as part of an ongoing battle surrounding the university system’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) spending.
Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who co-chairs the Legislature’s employment relations committee, has vowed to block pay increases for UW employees until the school system reduces its DEI spending by $32 million. This decision has led to criticism from Democratic Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard, who argued that it is unfair to deny pay increases to half of the state’s workforce due to one individual’s resistance to inclusion on university campuses.
In June, Republicans reduced UW’s funding by $32 million during the budget drafting process, citing their estimation of the amount the system’s 13 campuses allocated towards DEI efforts over a two-year period. Although Democratic Governor Tony Evers used his veto power to save 188 DEI positions at the university, the funding cut still went ahead.
The budget passed by the Legislature, and signed by Governor Evers, included pay raises of 4% this year and 2% next year for state employees. However, the employee relations committee, which is controlled by Republicans in a 6-2 majority, approved these raises solely for state workers excluding the university system’s approximately 36,000 full-time employees.
Speaker Vos has expressed his willingness to approve pay raises for UW employees if the school system relinquishes its power to create its own jobs, particularly DEI roles. His stance reflects concerns over what he perceives as an ideological agenda being pursued within the university system.
This battle in Wisconsin is part of a broader national cultural conflict surrounding diversity measures in colleges and universities. Republican Governors Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas have both signed laws this year banning the use of diversity, equity, and inclusion measures in student admissions and staff employment decisions within higher education institutions. Similar bills were proposed in around a dozen Republican-led states.
The clash over diversity spending in Wisconsin highlights the divisions surrounding this issue and the ongoing debate over the appropriate role of race and ethnicity in higher education institutions. While some argue that DEI efforts are essential for fostering inclusive environments, others express concerns over potential ideological biases and the allocation of resources.
