Speaker Robin Vos seeks to block UW System pay raises amid push to cut DEI from campuses

University of Wisconsin System employees may see no bump in their paychecks this year despite 4% raises already being funded in the state budget.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, told WisPolitics he will seek to block pay raises for the 41,000 UW System employees if his demands to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion offices aren't met.

Here's what to know:

It's unclear if other Republicans support Vos' plan

The budget passed into law this summer called for all state employees to receive a 4% raise this July and a 2% raise next year. The UW employee raises require approval by the Republican-controlled Joint Committee on Employment Relations, which Vos co-chairs.

The other co-chair, Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, did not return a call and email asking whether he supports Vos' plan. Other Republicans on the committee — Sen. Devin LeMahieu of Oostburg, Sen. Howard Marklein of Spring Green, Rep. Mark Born of Beaver Dam and Rep. Tyler August of Lake Geneva — either not respond to requests for comment or declined to comment.

Threat continues budget battle Republicans have focused on DEI

Vos' threat escalates a fight he started last spring when he called on campuses to cut diversity offices and employees who support a broad range of students, such as students of color, student veterans, women studying in male-dominated disciplines and students with disabilities. He sees diversity, equity and inclusion, often referred by the DEI shorthand, as racially divisive.

“I don’t think that they deserve to have any more resources until they accomplish the goal,” Vos told WisPolitics on Friday. “Not a nickel. When I say a nickel, that’s what I mean.”

Vos and his spokeswoman did not return requests for comment from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"I think it is short-sighted and harmful and clearly out of partisan desire," said Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard, D-Madison, who sits on the joint employment committee. "It's not what is in the best interest in the state of Wisconsin. We know highly successful business, nonprofits and educational institutions embrace DEI and the benefits from it.

Agard worried about the consequences on students and campus culture if DEI offices ceased to exist. She was also concerned about the effect Vos' pay plan could have on employee recruitment and retention.

Professors plead for swift approval amid inflation

UW System professors are underpaid compared to peer schools and have been for at least 13 years, according to a UW System analysis that takes into account cost-of-living adjustments. The wage gap was as wide as 16% for regional campuses and 13% for UW-Milwaukee in 2021-22.

UW System employees have received 2% pay raises in each of the last four fiscal years. Rising inflation, however, has eroded the value of workers' earnings.

"In order to help these loyal employees pay their bills and plan for their futures, they need to be given their pay raises as soon as possible," leaders of the UW-Madison faculty group PROFS said in a letter to legislative leaders in July.

UW System President Jay Rothman said he remains hopeful employees will receive pay raises.

“We continue to have discussions with the Speaker and appreciate that there are differing views on ED&I,” Rothman said, referring to equity, diversity and inclusion. “We believe we can work through these issues without adversely affecting employees and their families. I am proud of our employees who have demonstrated their commitment to our students and our state.”

Have DEI positions been cut across UW System?

Denying pay raises would be a much larger loss for the UW System than the $32 million cut absorbed this summer. The pay raises total about $92 million, 70% of which would be funded by the state and the rest left to campuses to fund on their own.

The UW System may be able to recoup the $32 million cut by presenting a spending plan focused on workforce development to a GOP-controlled committee.

The likelihood of getting that money back remains unclear. Some Republicans seem open to the idea but Vos opposes it unless campuses cut DEI employees.

UW-Madison vice chancellor for student affairs Lori Reesor said the university isn't eliminating its DEI positions, according to The Daily Cardinal, a UW-Madison student newspaper.

Asked whether any DEI positions have been eliminated since Vos called on UW to do so, UW System spokesperson Mark Pitsch said all universities regularly evaluate staffing and positions.

"UW System's commitment on DEI positions is focused on student success, including recruitment and retention," he said.

Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KellyMeyerhofer.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Robin Vos seeks to block UW System pay raises as way to dismantle DEI