Convention center staff gets raise
New minimum hourly wage is $15, up from $11
People who work at downtown Milwaukee’s convention center complex are getting a raise — including a new minimum wage of $15 an hour.
The pay raise is for employees of Wisconsin Center District, the statecreated agency that operates the Wisconsin Center convention hall, the UWWisconsin Panther Arena and the Miller High Life Theatre.
The district has 79 full-time and 226 part-time employees, with pay increasing for around 200 people, said Marty Brooks, district president and chief executive officer.
The wage increase includes a new minimum of $15 an hour, up from $11 an hour, Brooks said Thursday at a meeting of the district board’s Finance and Personnel Committee.
The district has 79 employees who now earn below $15 an hour.
The higher wage will help the district better attract and retain workers, Brooks told committee members. He also said it’s the right thing to do. “I’m really proud to be able to afford it right now,” Brooks said.
The district finances its operations in part with taxes on Milwaukee County hotel rooms, restaurant tabs and car rentals.
The wage increase is mainly for people who work in guest services. That includes ushers, ticket takers and cleanup crews.
It doesn’t affect food and beverage workers. They’re employed by Levy Restaurants, which the district hires to run its concessions.
The wage increase takes effect July 1.
Thursday’s news comes about a month after Fiserv Forum and the organization representing that arena’s employees announced a tentative contract that includes a $15 an hour minimum wage.
The district owns Fiserv Forum but leases it to the Milwaukee Bucks, which operates that venue.
Meanwhile, the district is planning a $300 million expansion of the Wisconsin Center.
The facility opened in two phases, in 1998 and 2000. The third phase would be on what are now convention center parking lots between West Wells Street and West Kilbourn Avenue.
That expansion would allow the Wisconsin Center to attract more conventions and trade shows, which would generate more spending by visitors, according to a consultant’s report.
Project details are to be announced at the district board’s March 6 meeting.