Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

2018 Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Community Services Conference

Save the date! This annual event promises excitement, education, and motivation - an agenda filled with workshops and keynote/political speakers! Specifics will be mailed out at a later date but we wanted to make sure you had the necessary information for planning and budgeting purposes. We would like to encourage ALL affiliates to send at least one participant to the conference. 

 

April 5 - 7, 2018

Radisson Hotel and Conference Center
2040 Airport Drive
Green Bay, WI 54313
800-333-3333 or 920-494-7300

 

The tentative overall conference agenda, with approximate times, is as follows:

 

Thursday, April 5th

10:00 a.m. registration begins
1:00 p.m. opening/first general session
3:00 p.m. workshops - will choose one from four offerings

 

Friday, April 6th

8:30 a.m. morning/second general session
10:15 a.m. workshops - will choose one from four offerings
11:45 a.m. buffet luncheon (included in registration fee)
1:15 p.m. afternoon/third general session

 

Saturday, April 7th

8:30 a.m. closing/fourth general session

 

Times shown are subject to change. We will adjourn by 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 7th.

 

Registration will be $100 per person, which includes a buffet luncheon on Friday.

 

**Reservation cut-off date is Wednesday, March 14, 2018

 

 Click here for conference materials. 

 

Questions may be directed to AFL-CIO Labor Liaison Ann M. McNeary, Chair of the WI State AFL-CIO Community Services Committee, at [email protected] or 608-246-4355.

 

Long Held Republican Senate Seat Flipped in Western WI!

Great news from Wisconsin’s 10^th Senate District. In an energizing victory for working Wisconsinites, Democrat Patty Schachtner shatters the 17-year Republican hold on Senate District 10 with a commanding victory in last night’s special election. Wisconsin AFL-CIO endorsed candidate Patty Schachtner, a medical examiner and school board member, won with 55 percent of the vote.

Wisconsin’s 10^th Senate District in Western Wisconsin has been a Republican stronghold for more than a decade and went for Mitt Romney in 2012 and Donald Trump in 2016 by large margins.

Against long odds and big out-of-state dollars, union members and working people bundled up to trudge through snowbanks and ice and with optimism and determination knocked on doors, made phone calls, and talked to their coworkers and family members to spread the word about the importance of this election and the need for a new direction for Wisconsin. Thank you to all the union members and working people who volunteered their time and energy to make victory happen!  

Senator-elect Schachtner will bring a much-needed check to Scott Walker’s anti-worker agenda.  She is ready to work on behalf of the people and make positive changes in Wisconsin to raise wages, create jobs, protect union rights and move our state towards a brighter future for all of us.

Wisconsinites know that Gov. Scott Walker has taken our state backwards by rolling back the clock on worker rights and further rigging our economy against working people. Voters are looking for a new direction and real leadership that will put the people first. Wisconsinites are sending a clear message that they are sick of politicians putting campaign donors ahead of what is best for the state.

Working families are ready for a leader like Senator-elect Schachtner who will prioritize making real investments in education, expanding healthcare access to families and creating a fair economy that works for everyone.

We are energized by this victory for workers and ready to continue the momentum into November 2018 and beyond!

Democrat Patty Schachtner Wins Special Election in Wisconsin’s 10th Senate District Held by Republicans for 17 years

Wisconsin AFL-CIO Endorsed Candidate Patty Schachtner Wins in Wisconsin’s deeply red 10^th Senate District in energizing victory for working people

 

“In a major sea change for working people in a Republican stronghold in Western Wisconsin, voters have elected a democratic leader with 55 percent of the vote,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO.  “Senator-elect Schachtner will advance working class issues like creating jobs, raising wages and protecting the freedom to join together in union for a better tomorrow. Wisconsinites know that Gov. Scott Walker has taken our state backwards by rolling back the clock on worker rights and further rigging our economy against working people, and now voters are looking for a new direction.”

 

“In an energizing victory for working Wisconsinites, Democrat Patty Schachtner shatters the 17-year Republican hold on Senate District 10 with a commanding victory in last night’s special election,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. “Against long odds and big out-of-state money, union members and working people bundled up to trudge through snowbanks and ice and with optimism and determination knocked on doors, made phone calls, and talked to their coworkers and family members to spread the word about the importance of this election and the need for a new direction for Wisconsin. We are energized by this victory for workers and ready to continue the fight for a fair economy for all people as we head into the New Year.”

Senate Bill 634 Preempts Progress for Working Families

Senator Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Representative Hutton (R- Brookfield) have introduced a harmful bill that, if passed, will preempt many ways in which local governments in Wisconsin could enhance employment standards in their own communities.

Senate Bill 634 & Assembly Bill 748 would make sweeping changes to how working people can increase fairness and justice within work places.

On Wednesday, January 10, Wisconsin AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Stephanie Bloomingdale was at the Capitol to testify at the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform against the bill.

Click here to email your representatives in opposition of SB 634. 

“Senate Bill 634 would preempt local policies that help working families make ends meet, plan child care, and seek justice when discrimination occurs,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO.  “A host of local ordinances that help working families raise wages, combat wage theft, access predictable scheduling and paid sick leave would all be stopped from being implemented at the local level under this bill. Foolishly, this Republican-backed bill would prevent future creative ordinances developed by local leaders and communities working together to address the unique and individual needs in their own communities from being considered.”

“This bill is a slap in the face to Wisconsin working men and women, many of whom are juggling multiple jobs or working in the on-demand economy riddled with precarious scheduling and low paychecks,” continued Bloomingdale. “Instead of working together to create good jobs and uplifting economic opportunities for Wisconsin workers, Senator Kapenga and Representative Hutton are working overtime to stack the deck against working families and further rig the rules of our economy against everyday working people in order to payback their rich campaign donors.”

Summary of the restrictions under SB 634 & AB 748 is as follows:

1. This bill not only prohibits local governments from utilizing labor peace agreements, but sets a criminal penalty if a municipality passes an ordinance requiring a labor peace agreement.
2. This bill would end an opportunity that allows local governments to set a minimum wage for employees who are contracted to perform work for the local government.
3. This bill would prohibit local governments from enforcing license regulations that are more strict than the state standards for that license.
4. This bill would prohibit local governments from enacting or enforcing employment discrimination standards.
5. This bill would prohibit local governments from forcing contractors to agree to a mandatory labor peace agreement in order to receive a license or permit.

6. The bill would create a statewide standard for employee scheduling of hours and overtime regulations, and would prohibit local governments from passing fair scheduling ordinances.

7. This bill would prohibit local governments from setting a level of employment benefits for employers, for example mandating certain time off or retirement benefits.
8. This bill would prohibit local governments from passing an ordinance to prohibit employers from asking about salary history.

9. This bill would prohibit local governments from creating agencies to handle wage claims, or complaints about wage theft.

 

Take Action Today. Send a message to your lawmaker and tell them you support living wages and justice in the workplace. 

Help Elect Patty Schachtner in Senate District 10

On Tuesday, January 16, there will be a special election in Senate District 10. Senate District 10 is located in Western Wisconsin and is composed of parts of Burnett, Polk, St. Croix, Pierce and Dunn Counties. A special election is being held to fill the seat formerly held by Senator Sheila Harsdorf, who resigned her senate seat when she was appointed by Gov. Walker to Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

The Wisconsin AFL-CIO has endorsed Patty Schachtner in the special election to be our next state senator! Patty shares our union values and will put Western Wisconsin’s working families first. She has a plan to prioritize the creation of good, family-supporting jobs with living wages and benefits. Patty will protect the freedom to come together and collectively bargain in strong unions which builds our middle class. In the senate, Schachtner will work to restore funding for our neighborhood public schools, vital technical colleges and world-class UW campuses so that every Wisconsin child has the chance at a first-rate education.

 

VOTE TUESDAY JANUARY 16, 2018 for Patty Schachtner for Wisconsin Senate!

 

Many people may be unaware of this very important special election. Help us spread the word and get out the vote. Volunteer to make phone calls to remind your friends, neighbors and fellow union members to participate in democracy and get to the polls in support of Patty Schachtner.

 

Wisconsin Senate Special Election Phone Banks

 

EAU CLAIRE Labor Temple, 2233 Birch Street, Eau Claire, WI 54703

        Wednesday, January, 10th: 4 - 7 pm

        Thursday, January, 11th:      4 - 7 pm

        Saturday, January, 13th:       10 am - 1 pm

        Monday, January, 15th:        4 - 7 pm

 

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO (Upstairs), 6333 West Bluemound Road, Milwaukee  

         Tuesday, January 9th:           4 - 7 pm

         Thursday, January 11th:      4 - 7 pm

 

MADISON Labor Temple (Room 212), 1602 South Park Street, Madison

         Monday, January 8th:           4 - 8 pm

         Tuesday, January 9th:           4 - 8 pm

         Wednesday, January 10th: 4 - 8 pm

         Thursday, January 11th:      4 - 8 pm

         Saturday, January 13th:       10 am - 6 pm

         Sunday, January 14^th:            1 - 6 pm

         Monday, January 15th:        4 - 8 pm

         Tuesday, January 16^th:          4 - 7:30 pm

Stand up for living wages and predictable scheduling

Republicans in Wisconsin are wasting no time attacking workers in the New Year. A bill that preempts a local municipality from enacting a local living wage, fair scheduling standard, and a host of other measures that would improve the lives of working people is up for a public hearing at the state Capitol on Wednesday, January, 10.

Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform

Public Hearing on SB 634

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

10 a.m.

411 South, State Capitol

Senate Bill 634 will preempt many ways in which local governments in Wisconsin could enhance employment standards in their own communities, and would preempt new ideas to enhance workplace standards, even those that have been tried and tested across the Country, from going forward in our own communities. The bill is co-authored by Sen. Kapenga (R- Delafield) & Rep. Hutton (R-Brookfield). The duo has made it their New Years resolution to continue to chip away at worker rights in order to further rig the rules of our economy to favor their campaign donors.

Attend the hearing on Wednesday to speak out for the ability of local communities to make decisions to raise wages, enact predictable scheduling or create agencies to handle wage claims, or complaints about wage theft. We know Gov. Walker will not help workers struggling to make ends meet. Now, the GOP is shamefully taking away the ability of our local governments to support working people to have better wages and better jobs.

Click here to send a message to your Senator today. Tell them to stand up for worker rights and vote NO on SB 634 and AB 748.

More about the bill:

Eliminating Local, Democratic Control of Licensing Standards

SB 634 / AB 748    

This bill would make sweeping changes to how working people can make change at the local level to increase consistency and quality in products and services and fairness and justice at work.

1.   This bill not only prohibits local governments from utilizing labor peace agreements, but sets a criminal penalty if a municipality passes an ordinance requiring a labor peace agreement.
2.   This bill would end an opportunity that allows local governments to set a minimum wage for employees who are contracted to perform work for the local government.
3. This bill would prohibit local governments from enforcing license regulations that are more strict than the state standards for that license.
4.   This bill would prohibit local governments from enacting or enforcing employment discrimination standards.
5.   This bill would prohibit local governments from forcing contractors to agree to a mandatory labor peace agreement in order to receive a license or permit.
6.   The bill would create a statewide standard for employee scheduling of hours and overtime regulations, and would prohibit local governments from passing fair scheduling ordinances.
7. This bill would prohibit local governments from setting a level of employment benefits for employers, for example mandating certain time off or retirement benefits.
8.   This bill would prohibit local governments from passing an ordinance to prohibit employers from asking about salary history.
9.   This bill would prohibit local governments from creating agencies to handle wage claims, or complaints about wage theft.

This bill is designed to hinder the progress of working people. All around the country cities have been passing local living wage ordinances and fair scheduling laws in order to raise wages and jobs standards. In the past two decades, at least 140 communities in the U.S. have passed local living wage ordinances.

New York City, Seattle and Oregon have enacted fair scheduling ordinances which create predictable, stable schedules for working families. This family-friendly policy lets workers plan their workweek and child care responsibilities ahead of time. Too many jobs are moving towards on-demand or gig-style scheduling which allows employers to tell workers to stay home or come into work at the last minute without predictability.

Senate Bill 634 / Assembly Bill 748 would, among other anti-worker proposals, bar any city or local government from enacting family-friendly policies that support working Moms and Dads and lift up entire communities.

This bill attacks workers, our rights, and our democratic processes and has no place in Wisconsin. Under our Wisconsin State Constitution and various state statutes, local governments largely may determine their own affairs. Communities around our State have come together to address safety standards, wage protection, and rights at work by passing local ordinances to improve our workplace standards. This bill would preempt those local ordinances and would prevent creative initiatives that come from local leaders and communities from being considered.

Attend the hearing at the Capitol next Wednesday and send an email to your representatives today!

We look forward to working together to continue the fight for good jobs, fair wages for all workers, strong union freedoms, fair contracts that grow our economy and a more just economy for all in 2018.