Committee approves 2 percent across-the-board raises for state workers next 2 years

MADISON -- A legislative committee has signed off on pay raises for state workers.

The Joint Committee on Employment Relations unanimously approved a compensation plan Wednesday that lays out a 2 percent across-the-board raise in mid-2018 and another 2 percent across-the-board raise at the beginning of 2019. Included in the plan are raises ranging from 30 cents to 75 cents per hour for nearly 200 positions that earn significantly less than their private sector counterparts as well as pay-range increases for prison guards.

The committee also unanimously approved bills that would give state construction and trade workers a 1.26 percent raise. The Legislature must approve the bills and Gov. Scott Walker must sign them into law before they can take effect.

The state budget allocates about $117 million for state employee raises.