Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Joe Biden Meets with Union Members at Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Manitowoc

Joe Biden just stepped off the stage in Manitowoc where he detailed his plans to rebuild our country with good union jobs, prevailing wage, and by revitalizing our American manufacturing with ‘Buy American’ standards.

We need leaders who will prioritize good jobs and a strong middle class. Join union members in mobilizing like never before to elect Joe Biden this November.

Get involved with our Labor 2020 program at https://www.wisaflcio.org/mobilize

Joe Biden visited with members of United Steelworkers Local 125, USW Local 301, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 516 today as part of his focus on American manufacturing and keeping products made in America. USW and IAMAW members at Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Manitowoc make a variety of custom aluminum cast products including large-scale specialty products for businesses and every day products for consumers like pots, pans, pressure cookers and kitchen equipment.

“Joe Biden gets it,” says Mike Bolton, United Steelworkers District 2 Director. “Biden understands our issues. He knows we cannot have a strong economy without strong unions and good jobs available for working people. Biden will end the policies that incentivize shipping our jobs overseas. He has a robust plan to Build Back Better with worker power, fair wages, and good union jobs.” 

Join union members as we make calls to turn out the union vote, help fellow union members request absentee ballots, and prepare to vote safely on November 3.

Join our mobilization efforts at wisaflcio.org/mobilize today. Election Day is just around the corner!

“We are proud to welcome Joe Biden to a union shop today in Manitowoc,” said Alex Hoekstra, Directing Business Representative of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 10. “Joe Biden has a record of supporting America’s workers. He has a plan to prioritize good jobs and fair wages for all.”

“Wisconsin workers can compete with anyone in the world when we have a fair and level playing field,” said Dennis Delie, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. “With Joe Biden as President, we know we can count on policies that protect, preserve, and grow our American manufacturing and American middle class with good jobs that so many of our families in Wisconsin and across our country rely on.”

Get involved today to help Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and pro-worker candidates up and down the ballot at wisaflcio.org/mobilize

“Union members are ready to get to work and mobilize like never before to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next President and Vice President,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. “Joe Biden continues to show his commitment to Wisconsin’s working people. Biden will fight for a fair economy that works for all. Union members are talking with friends, family, and co-workers about November 3. Union members are mobilizing to work the polls, help other union members request and return absentee ballots, and get the word out to prepare now for safe voting on November 3.”

WATCH LIVE AT 2:15 P.M. Monday September 21

Joe Biden is visiting Manitowoc today where he will meet with union members at Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry. Wisconsin union members are proud to welcome Vice President Joe Biden to the state of Wisconsin and to the Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Manitowoc. The union men and women of the United Steelworkers Local 125 and USW Local 301 and the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers Local 516 make this foundry thrive and produce a variety of made in America custom aluminum cast products from tank intakes and exhaust pipes to pots and pans and even electric beer can sealers.

TUNE IN: You can watch the event live starting at 2:15 p.m. CST on Monday, September 21^st at: http://joebiden.com/live

Joe Biden knows that when we bet on American workers, we win and that the only way to revive our economy is with a strong middle class that is union made.

We look forward to welcoming Vice President Biden to Wisconsin today. Watch his remarks live from Manitowoc HERE.

Tell Senator Johnson: Workers Deserve Action

Since the beginning of the global pandemic, Wisconsin workers have shown up to get the job done, and power our communities through. Workers deserve safe workplaces with an OSHA standard on infectious disease as well as support and investments so we can stay safe on the job and keep our communities healthy.

Under President Trump, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) refuses to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard on infectious disease which would provide clear guidelines and enforceable standards to protect workers from contracting COVID-19 on the job. This is unacceptable.

This spring, our own Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), together with Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced The COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act to require OSHA issue an Emergency Temporary Standard to establish a legal obligation for all workplaces to implement infectious disease exposure control plans to keep workers safe. Senator Baldwin’s bill would have OSHA issue a standard within 7 days to cover all U.S. workers, including workers in health care, manufacturing, food processing plants, warehouses, and grocery stores. The Every Worker Protection Act includes anti-retaliation provisions so workers can speak freely about unsafe workplace conditions without fear of retribution.

Click here to send a letter to Senator Ron Johnson urging his support of the COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act.

Working people continue to call for Senate action on the HEROES Act, a comprehensive COVID-19 relief bill grounded in America’s Five Economic Essentials. The HEROES Act would help protect workers with additional personal protective equipment; fund our post office, schools and local governments; continue enhanced unemployment insurance for those out of work; keep workers on payrolls to avoid mass layoffs; and expand health care coverage.

The HEROES Act has stalled in the Senate for months while working Americans continue to weather the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout. Workers deserve relief. Senator Tammy Baldwin proudly supports the HEROES Act, but Senator Ron Johnson has yet to express support.

Click here to send a letter to Senator Ron Johnson urging his support of the HEROES Act. It is past time for Senate action.

Protecting workers is the only way forward. Through strong workplace protections, safety measures and investments in working people, we can continue doing our job safe from virus exposure and help keep our communities healthy.

 

50 Days

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The road to the White House runs through Wisconsin.

We are just 50 days away from one of the most important elections in our lifetime. Working people are essential voters—we must make our voices heard on November 3 and vote for candidates who have working people’s interests at heart, up and down the ballot.

Start planning how you will cast your ballot now and join our Labor 2020 program to help mobilize union voters like never before.

Voters have options to cast their ballot in our democracy. Check out the Wisconsin AFL-CIO Voter Guide to learn about voting by mail, in-person early voting, and of course how to vote safely vote on Election Day.

Click here to check your voter registration. If you need to register to vote visit myvote.wi.gov or your municipal clerk’s office to get started.

If you want to vote by mail, don’t wait. Request your absentee ballot today at myvote.wi.gov. Voting my mail is safe and easy.

Help democracy, volunteer to be a poll worker. As coronavirus continues to impact Americans across the country, there has been a staggering decrease in the number of people who are able to work the polls. The AFL-CIO is partnering with Power the Polls to recruit poll workers to ensure a safe, fair election for all voters. Sign up here to help staff polling places.

​If you haven’t already, sign up to join our virtual phone banks to talk with union voters about the importance of this election at wisaflcio.org/mobilize.

The Wisconsin AFL-CIO is proud to endorse Joe Biden for President and Kamala Harris for Vice President as well as working family champions for Congress and the state legislature. Click here to view our list of endorsed candidates. In Wisconsin, our state races are vital as we protect the veto power of Gov. Evers. Wisconsin Republicans are just three seats away from having the two-thirds super-majority control needed to override Gov. Tony Evers’ veto in both the Assembly and state Senate.

Working people want to go to work to good jobs, with fair pay and good benefits, where we are free to negotiate for better wages, safer workplaces and fairer treatment. And we want to come home from those jobs safely to our families after every shift. We want a fair and just economy that works for all. The labor movement is fighting for a better life for all of America's working people. We expect our elected leaders to do the same and advance legislation that builds a fairer economy and a more just society for everyone.

On November 3, let’s make our voices heard.