Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Biden Appoints OSHA Leader, Calls on Agency to step up for Workers on First Full Day in Office

(January 21, 2021, MILWAUKEE, WI) - Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, released the following statement as President Biden issues an executive order calling on OSHA to immediately issue clear guidance on keeping workers safe from COVID-19 as well as enforce worker health and safety requirements.

“Wisconsin workers voted for Joe Biden because he pledged to be the most pro-labor, pro-worker President in history. On his first full day in office, President Biden backed up his campaign trail promises by appointing James S. Frederick, a former union safety official with the United Steelworkers, to lead OSHA and issued a long-overdue and badly needed executive order making worker safety a national priority. The executive order on workplace health and safety calls on OSHA to immediately issue clear guidance for workers and employers dealing with a deadly infectious disease in the workplace. Today’s executive order also asks OSHA to step up and do its job to enforce workplace health and safety and hold employers accountable for unsafe working conditions, something that has been lacking since the start of the pandemic.

Since March, the Wisconsin AFL-CIO has been calling for a workplace standard for stronger OSHA enforcement. Keeping workers safe on the job is a critical piece in the fight to beat COVID-19. Today’s order signals a sea change in tactics to protect workers in order to save lives. We look forward to a continued worker-centered approach and a renewed, reinvigorated OSHA, MSHA and entire Labor Department under the Biden Administration.”

President Biden’s Inauguration Jump Starts Once in a Generation Opportunity for America’s Workers

(January 20, 2021 MILWAUKEE, WI) – Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO released the following statement on the inauguration of Joseph Biden as the 46^th President of the United States.

“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Wisconsin working men and women look ahead to good job creation, increased worker safety in the pandemic and beyond, and a worker first policy agenda to empower workers to create a stronger, more fair economy that works for all.

President-elect Biden has already begun the hard work of lifting up America’s working families with strong plans to combat and contain the coronavirus and get immediate relief to Americans struggling. Joe Biden’s economic plan includes lifesaving elements America’s labor movement has been fighting for since the summer including enhanced unemployment insurance, state and local government assistance, direct payments to individuals, COBRA subsidies, an eviction moratorium, expanded paid leave and a long overdue Occupational Safety and Health Administration emergency temporary standard for infectious disease.

Wisconsin union members voted in historic numbers for President Biden and Vice President Harris because we’re ready to work together to rebuild our American middle class with pro-worker policies and key investments in infrastructure and manufacturing.

With President Biden and a pro-labor majority in the U.S. Senate and House, America’s labor movement now has a once in a generation opportunity to work with legislators who have the courage and conviction to take on critical issues facing the American workplace. This will start with the PRO Act so workers who want to form a union can do so freely and fairly, and it includes workplace safety, voting rights, infrastructure investment, racial justice, pensions, paid family leave and more.

When we stand together and push for advancements in our country, we can truly make the difference working people need and deserve so that Americans can care for our families, make ends meet and begin a great effort to build back better so that our country after COVID-19 is a country where work is rewarded, the future is bright for our kids, and there’s liberty and justice for all.”

Celebrate Inauguration Day with #LaborUnity2021

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Wisconsin union members worked around the clock to deliver Wisconsin for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. We joined virtual phone banks, wrote postcards, and had vital conversations in our workplaces to educate on the issues and elect pro-worker champions.

Today, we celebrate the victory working people delivered when we showed up to the polls in record numbers, and elected pro-worker, pro-union politicians to lead the executive branch and both houses of the legislature in free and fair elections. Today, also represents restored hope and optimism that we will soon defeat this virus and get back to regular life.

To celebrate this historic moment, we invite you to snap a selfie wearing your union swag during the Inauguration ceremony and share using the hashtag #LaborUnity2021.

Joseph R. Biden Jr. will be sworn in as the 46^th President of the Unites States of America on Wednesday, January 20, at 11:00 a.m. central time. With his inauguration comes a once in a generation opportunity to make advancements and real change for workers. With President Biden and a pro-labor majority in the U.S. Senate and House, America’s labor movement looks forward to working with legislators who have the courage and conviction to take on critical issues facing the American workplace. This will start with the PRO Act so workers who want to form a union can do so freely and fairly, and it includes workplace safety, voting rights, infrastructure investment, racial justice, pensions, paid family leave and more.

Celebrate this moment in history together with your union brothers and sisters by wearing your union gear and sharing a photo to social media using the hashtag #LaborUnity2021.

President-elect Biden has already begun the hard work of lifting up America’s working families with strong plans to combat COVID-19 and get relief to Americans struggling through the continued pandemic. Biden’s economic plan includes lifesaving elements America’s labor movement has been fighting for since the summer including enhanced unemployment insurance, state and local government assistance, direct payments to individuals, COBRA subsidies, an eviction moratorium, expanded paid leave and a long overdue Occupational Safety and Health Administration emergency temporary standard for infectious disease.

Today, let’s celebrate as we look forward to a better day for all working people. When we stand together and push for advancements in our country, we can truly make the difference working people need and deserve so that Americans can care for our families, make ends meet and begin a great effort to build back better so that our country after COVID-19 is a country where work is rewarded, the future is bright for our kids, and there’s liberty and justice for all.

Governor Evers Delivers Pivotal State of the State

2020 has been a challenging, unrelenting year for working families and union members on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tonight, Governor Tony Evers delivered a pivotal State of the State address dedicated to the over 5,000 Wisconsinites we have lost to COVID-19. In his address, Gov. Evers put forth a vision for real relief for Wisconsin’s working families. You can watch the address on the Governor’s social media channels.

During a turbulent time in our nation’s history, Governor Tony Evers has provided commonsense leadership we can count on. Since the very start of the pandemic, Governor Evers has used his authority to put forth pragmatic solutions to keep Wisconsin workers safe, control the pandemic, and support working families to stabilize our economy.

In his 2021 State of the State address, Governor Evers outlined numerous policy items that if enacted will create a better future for us all. The policies we put in place now will determine the extent to which we get our health and economy back, and how quickly.

As we begin a new year and a new legislative session amidst growing partisanship and division that has brought our country to an inflection point, we must come together to repair the massive damage that has been inflicted on the health and economic well-being of the people of Wisconsin.

It’s time for Speaker Vos and Senate Majority Leader LeMahieu and the entire Republican leadership in the Legislature to put partisanship aside and work in tandem with Governor Tony Evers to enact the priorities outlined in tonight’s State of the State. If so, we can help working families weather the interwoven crises of COVID-19, its economic fallout, and long-standing systemic racism to create a better Wisconsin for all.