MADISON, Wis. (WBAY) - A committee of lawmakers has approved a pay raise for corrections officers and sergeants amid a prison staffing crisis in Wisconsin.

The bipartisan Joint Committee on Employment Relations held a hearing Tuesday and unanimously approved a compensation plan.

• Increase the starting wage for correction officers by $0.47
• Provide a temporary add-on of $5 per hour correctional officers and sergeants at adult prisons with combined CO/Sgt vacancy rate of 40 percent o higher. It would stay in place until the vacancy rate is under 40 percent for six consecutive months
• Two percent general wage adjustment for all employees in 2022 and 2023

The committee did not take up a companion bill that would have implemented a $5 pay increase for almost all officers, sergeants and youth counselors and permanent $2 add-on for security staff at maximum security prisons. State Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) blamed Republicans for not bringing it before the committee.

“Corrections employees play an essential role in Wisconsin in ensuring the safety of our residents. I am deeply disappointed that Republicans decided to play politics and make excuses, while rejecting state funding to address critical staffing shortages in a way that is sustainable. It is clear that the worker shortage at our prisons is not a priority for Wisconsin Republicans despite the state having plenty of state funding. State employees deserve better than what Republicans put forward today,” said Hintz.

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