Wis. plan gives workers 5 pct raises

Wis. plan gives workers 5 pct raises

	Published : Mon, 26 Nov 2007 23:48 By : Agencies Print this Story

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - State employees ranging from professors to judges would get 5 percent raises over the next 18 months under a plan being reviewed by the Legislature.

The Office of State Employment Relations is recommending an immediate 2 percent raise for nonunion state employees; a 2 percent raise in July 2008 and a 1 percent raise in April 2009.

The recommendations apply to thousands of University of Wisconsin faculty and academic staff, executive branch employees and elected officials.

Lawmakers themselves would get raises starting with those elected next fall. Senators and representatives sworn in after Jan. 1, 2009 would earn $50,438 per year compared to their current $47,413.

The proposed raises reflect the state's tight budget, OSER Director Jennifer Donnelly said in a letter to lawmakers. Her agency estimates the package would increase state spending by about $126 million over the two-year period that ends June 30, 2009.

The recommendations fall far short of the 5.2 percent per year increases UW System leaders had originally been seeking. They argued bigger raises were needed to make faculty and staff salaries competitive after they fell behind other universities in recent years.

'We are disappointed the pay plan fails to keep us competitive,' said Louise Robbins, a UW-Madison professor and president of PROFS Inc., which represents the campus faculty. 'This doesn't even begin to get us caught up.'

The new state budget also includes a $10 million fund to help retain UW System faculty and staff. Robbins said that would help but would not be enough to close the gap.

A joint legislative committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the recommendations on Tuesday. Afterward, lawmakers could approve the proposed raises and benefit changes.

The plan would also:

-- Freeze health insurance premiums at current levels for 2008. In 2009, they would rise by about 15 percent for all three levels of coverage available. Monthly premiums would range from $31 for a single employee on the lowest plan to $412 for family coverage on the best plan.

-- Grant many employees lump sum payments that would make their 2 percent raise retroactive to June 24. This is intended to compensate them for the delay in raises caused by the state's failure to pass a budget by July 1.

-- Increase personal vehicle mileage reimbursement rates for state employees to 46.5 cents per mile from 42.5 cents.