Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Buy Wisconsin Holiday Challenge!

This holiday season, take the “Buy Wisconsin Challenge” and pledge to buy Wisconsin-made or union-made gifts for your loved ones. Let’s harness our working families purchasing power to support Wisconsin workers and good jobs in order to support our neighbors and boost local economies across the state.

Support local workers and local jobs, Buy Wisconsin! Find great Wisconsin-made products for the Buy Wisconsin Challenge at: http://buywi.org/

Wisconsin-Made Gift Ideas

• Regal Ware Pots and Pans made in West Bend. (USW)
• Wigwam Socks made in Sheboygan. (UFCW)
• Rowe Pottery made in Cambridge.
• Miller Beer made in Milwaukee. (UAW Brewery Workers)
• Usinger’s Sausage and Smoked Meats made in Milwaukee. (UFCW and IUOE)
• Klement’s Sausages. (UFCW)
• Carmex Lip Balm made in Franklin, makes a great stocking stuffer.
• John Deere lawn mowers made in Horicon. (IAMAW)
• Master Lock locks made in Milwaukee (check the label). (UAW)
• Speed Queen washing machines from Alliance Laundry made in Ripon. (USW)

• Nuk baby products made in Reedsburg. (IAMAW)

Every dollar you spend on Wisconsin-made goods helps to support Wisconsin jobs and fellow Wisconsin workers. Workers in Wisconsin make a huge range of great products for your holiday needs.

Find the perfect gift that carries a union label and is made in Wisconsin at BuyWI.org.

We're with Chuck

We stand in solidarity with Chuck Jones and all the brothers and sisters of United Steelworkers (USW) Local Union 1999 who are fighting to protect good American jobs at Carrier Corp. in Indianapolis, Indiana. To show your solidarity use #ImWithChuck on social media.

On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump took to Twitter to personally attack Chuck Jones, president of USW local 1999 which represents workers at Carrier.

Trump went on his tirade after Jones and other Carrier workers spoke truth to power to correct the record about Trump’s claims that he saved 1,100 jobs at Carrier from moving to Mexico. The actual number is 730 jobs saved. 550 jobs are still being moved to Mexico, despite the $7 million Carrier is getting in tax breaks.

For more than 35 years, Chuck and millions of union members have stood up against unfair trade deals that give companies like Carrier incentives to make products overseas and ship them back to the United States. Since 2000, the USW alone been a part of more than 50 trade cases to help keep family-sustaining jobs in this country.

Trump’s attack on USW Local 1999 President Chuck Jones is disrespectful to all workers who come together in unions to put a check on corporate power and greed. Trump’s tweets are a direct attack on the freedom of speech of a local union President who is simply doing his job. It is also a direct assault on the freedom of speech of every one of us. We should be able to speak up and criticize the actions of politicians without the fear of President-elect Trump’s social media wrath.

We know that workers coming together through unions is the best way to protect good American jobs, raise wages, ensure safe working conditions and protect our middle class. Our strength comes through our solidarity. Today, we want to send a message that is loud and clear that we stand with Chuck and all the hardworking union leaders, stewards, activists and members who fight each and every day for a better life for their members and all working people.

Buy America

From Flint to Milwaukee, we know that our drinking water infrastructure is in dire need of repair. Thankfully, Congress is doing something to assist communities with replacing harmful lead pipes that carry our drinking water and other drinking water challenges facing communities. The Water Resources Development Act is currently moving through Congress. It’s a good bill with bipartisan support.

But, just this week Rep. Paul Ryan removed key ‘Buy America’ provisions from the bill that would ensure that the iron and steel used in updating and replacing our pipes would be made in America. It’s up to us to make sure that this bill supports American manufacturing and American workers with strong ‘Buy America’ provisions.

Click here to email your Congress person today. Demand that they fix our broken water systems with American made steel and iron.

We are calling on Speaker Ryan and Congressional leadership to reinsert ‘Buy America’ language into the Water Resources Development Act. This commitment ensures that the water that Wisconsin and American families drink is carried through high-quality pipes, not pipes made in foreign countries with lower standards.

Wisconsin’s own U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin made sure that when the Senate voted on its version of the Water Resources Development Act, the bill contained strong Buy American provisions. Sen. Baldwin’s amendment called for all steel and iron used in water infrastructure projects to be 100% American made.

Ask Paul Ryan why he removed Buy America provisions from the water bill. Contact your Congress person today and tell them you want our pipes to be American made.

Buy American provisions are good for U.S. workers, U.S. manufacturers and U.S. communities. Let your representatives hear from you! Congress should not be allowed to go home until they show support for American workers by passing a Water Resources Development Act that includes strong Buy American provisions.

***Learn more about Buy America provisions and the Water Resources Development Act with our policy brief.***