Summary
AFSCME members asked for a $2-an-hour raise for general city workers instead of the proposed 2% (about 50 cents for lower-paid staff), no health premium or coverage changes, and a return to six-month probation.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 4
- Last 30 days
- 2
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 5, 2026.
Impact analysis
A $2-an-hour raise across general city employees would cost substantially more than the proposed 2% increase, but speakers argued underpaying workers degrades services.
Sanitation workers, library staff, water utility employees, and other lower-paid city workers who say they can't afford to live in Milwaukee.
Speakers said residents already feel the cost — understaffed DPW, slow road repairs, and workers leaving for other municipalities.
Mentions & discussions (4)
Check Milwaukee city employee salaries in 2023
Check Milwaukee city employee salaries in 2023 Yahoo
COMMON COUNCIL — October 5, 2026
AFSCME members asked for a $2-an-hour raise for general city workers instead of the proposed 2% (about 50 cents for lower-paid staff), no health premium or coverage changes, and a return to six-month probation.
FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE — July 8, 2026
A five-year study resetting pay for about 150 business and HR classifications is wrapping up, at roughly $5,900 per position. DER says this one-off approach is too expensive to repeat and is moving toward career ladders and across-the-board increases instead.
FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE — June 18, 2026
A $1.47 million annual pay package for management/HR business operations positions was filed late and raised deficit worries for 2027. The committee held the HR report and cut it from the pay ordinances pending more cost answers.
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