'Derelict in their duty': UW-Madison labor president criticizes University leaders, Gov. Evers over response to funding battle

MADISON (WKOW) -- The president of a UW-Madison group that represents employee interests, leveled scathing critiques at Universities of Wisconsin leadership and state elected officials for their handling of the ongoing higher education budget standoff. 

"I have been deeply disappointed by the Board of Regents," Chad Alan Goldberg, president of United Faculty and Academic Staff Local 223, said in reference to the governing body that oversees the Universities of Wisconsin. "I hear silence from the regents."

While not a formally recognized labor union due to a ban on many public sector unions, Local 223 carries out many of the duties that a recognized union would, including representing member interests.

However, members and representatives of these employee groups commonly refer to themselves as a union.

Republicans in the state Legislature have withheld $32 million in funding for UW schools since this past summer over diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices on state campuses. GOP lawmakers argue that the programs further racial divides.

27 News reached out to Republican leaders in the Assembly and state Senate to participate in this story. Neither responded. 

The loss of funds has exacerbated budget shortfalls and prompted layoffs and furloughs at campuses like UW-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville and UW-Parkside.

Goldberg felt the regents, many other UW officials and state elected leaders should be doing more than they are to respond to Republican political pressure.

"They are derelict in their duty, and I would say that UW System President Jay Rothman is complicit in the assault on the UW System," Goldberg said, using the former name of the Universities of Wisconsin. "He's worse than derelict in his duty."

Goldberg accused Rothman of "collaborating (with Republicans) and dismantling" the Universities of Wisconsin by "closing campuses, ending in-person instruction on campuses, denying opportunities and access to students."

Universities of Wisconsin Spokesperson Mark Pitsch issued a statement on behalf of Rothman that pushed back hard on Goldberg's characterization.

"These comments are baseless," Pitsch said. "To suggest otherwise is to ignore the facts as reported extensively in news media across the state."

Earlier this month, Rothman directed the closure of the UW-Platteville Richland branch campus and ended in-person instruction at two others.

In a September interview on Capital City Sunday, Rothman stood by DEI programing on campuses, calling it "important to drive student success."

He went on to describe a proposal the UW would give to legislative Republicans to convince them to release the withheld $32 million with the understanding it would go to support workforce development programs.

However, nearly two months later, the proposal intended to recover the funding has yet to materialize.

In the meantime, UW-Oshkosh announced plans to lay off or not renew more than 20 percent of its workforce and UW-Platteville announced it would cut more than 100 positions, and UW employees have waited on wage increases held up by state Republicans.

"We understand everyone’s frustration, but it should be clear that President Rothman is on the frontlines to advocate for our public universities that are so critical to our students, their families, and all Wisconsinites," Pitsch said.

But Goldberg's frustrations extended beyond the bounds of UW and up to Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat who has generally enjoyed broad organized labor support.

"I don't think Tony Evers as governor has done nearly enough to support the UW System, to protect it from these assaults by Republicans," Goldberg said. "He hasn't spoken out enough and he needs to do more as governor."

"No governor in modern Wisconsin history has advocated and fought for the UW System and higher education as fiercely as Gov. Evers," said Evers Spokesperson Britt Cudaback, "and he will continue to use every power and authority available to him to defend and protect the University of Wisconsin System, just as he always has."

Evers has visited several UW campuses to draw attention to the funding standoff. At various points, he has called Republicans "short-sighted" and their decision to withhold wage increases "as dumb as it comes."

The governor has also taken legislative action, calling lawmakers to meet in special session to consider workforce development proposals, part of which would invest tens of millions of dollars in the UW.

On a local level, Goldberg channeled frustration to campus leadership.

"I would say neither university chancellors and administrators, nor the regents, nor politicians are going to save the UW System and the Wisconsin Idea," Goldberg said.

Goldberg is a professor on the UW-Madison Campus, which has thus far not suffered the same financial difficulties experienced elsewhere in the state, likely thanks, at least in part, to robust student enrollment.

"UW-Madison educates the state’s future workforce and drives its economy forward," said UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin. "I have been clear that funding cuts, the lack of approval for a widely supported Engineering building and a hold on much needed pay increases for our employees, defy both reason and longstanding legislative tradition."