The leader of Wisconsin's Republican Party says he's done negotiating with the university over pay raises and a diversity agreement
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin's top Republican lawmaker said Monday he has finished negotiations with Wisconsin universities on a deal that would have given the university system's employees a raise and paid for construction of a new engineering building in in exchange for a reduction in staff positions focused on diversity. , equality and inclusivity.
The UW Board of Regents rejected the deal Saturday in a hastily called special meeting after regents raised concerns about the targeting of the DEI effort. The battle in Wisconsin comes amid a broader cultural battle unfolding across the country over college diversity initiatives.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who reached the deal with UW President Jay Rothman, said Monday on WISN-AM that he hopes the regents will reconsider, but that he is not open to changes.
“This deal was concluded in good faith,” said Vos. “We are not changing anything about this deal. We're not going backwards. If anything, I'd rather move forward. But a deal is a deal, you have to keep your word. This isn't forever. If they want to run away, they can run away.”
Neither Rothman nor UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin immediately responded to Monday requests for comment.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said Saturday he supported the regents' decision but wanted negotiations to continue. In the meantime, he called on the Legislature to provide funding for wage increases and engineering construction. Evers' spokeswoman, Britt Cudaback, referred to those comments on Monday when asked to respond to Vos' statements.
Vos said there was “zero chance” he would soften his position.
“I will do everything I can to ensure we enforce this deal, or wait until the next budget to talk about it again,” Vos said. “We are not going to give the wage increases. We are not going to approve these new construction programs. We are not going to approve the new money for the university unless they at least approve this deal.”
UW leaders spent months negotiating with Vos and other Republican lawmakers on the deal that was publicly released Friday. Rothman urged the regents to accept it, calling it a fair compromise.
At its core, the deal would have allowed for a 4% pay increase for all 35,000 UW employees, retroactive to July 1, when they were set to start. The pay increases were approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature in the state budget signed into law by Evers.
But those increases would also have to be approved by a Republican Party-controlled legislative committee. Vos blocked them because he tried to reduce university positions that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. In response, Evers filed a lawsuit in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, arguing that the Legislature overstepped its constitutional authority by blocking the wage increases.
Under the deal, in addition to the salary increases, the university would receive funding for a variety of construction projects, most notably approximately $200 million to construct a new engineering building on the UW-Madison flagship campus. That project was a top priority for the university and was supported by the state business community. But the Republicans didn't fund it.
The deal also called for the university system to freeze hiring for DEI positions through the end of 2026 and shift at least 43 current DEI positions to focus on “student success.” The system would also have eliminated any statements supporting diversity on student applications. The deal also would have eliminated an affirmative action faculty recruitment program at UW-Madison and created a position focused on conservative thinking.
Vos said Monday he wanted to get rid of all DEI positions at UW.
Also, under the deal, UW-Madison would have been forced to accept applicants who finish in the top 5% of their class at a Wisconsin high school. Applicants who finish in the top 10% of their class at a Wisconsin high school would have been guaranteed admission to regional campuses.