MADISON, WI – In response to the Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER) decision to withhold pay raises for UW System Employees. Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) released the following statement:

"I am deeply disappointed to hear that the Joint Committee on Employment Relations has decided to separate University of Wisconsin employees from other state employees when issuing pay increases and making cost-of-living adjustments. I stand by my constituents, Chancellor Mnookin and the University of Wisconsin, and will continue to support them in the legislature. 

This decision affects twenty-four thousand University of Wisconsin employees and reflects poorly on the promise we have made as a legislature to those whose work makes the day-to-day operations of our university system possible. In a time of record high inflation, delaying action and withholding pay increases for UW employees can only have a negative effect on those who staff our largest university, from instructors to researchers to dining hall and custodial staff.

If we are to continually attract and grow the talent UW is famous for, we cannot turn our backs on the thousands of people who make UW’s success a reality. We must remain steadfast in our commitment to the University and our state employees by working together to find a just resolution to this issue.”