Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Endorsement Alert for Wisconsin’s First Congressional District

The Wisconsin AFL-CIO is proud to announce our endorsement of Ann Roe for Wisconsin’s first Congressional District. Roe, a former educator and 25-year resident of Janesville, is challenging Rep. Bryan Steil to represent the people of Wisconsin in Congress.

“Ann Roe understands that strong unions are the backbone of our middle class and stands ready to fight for the rights of all Wisconsin workers so we can have a fair and just economy,” said Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale. “Ann is a community leader having served on Downtown Janesville’s board, including as President. She will work hard to better our communities by prioritizing the needs of working families across Wisconsin.”

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO,” said Ann Roe, Congressional candidate for Wisconsin’s first district. “As a strong supporter of workers’ rights, I will fight for working families across Wisconsin’s first Congressional District.”

Ann Roe has a bold and bright vision for Wisconsin’s future. She has the experience and the dedication to build a strong Wisconsin with good jobs and economic opportunity for all.

Preview your ballot at myvote.wi.gov. Wisconsin’s primary election will be held on Tuesday, August 9. The fall election will be held Tuesday, November 8. Request your absentee ballot today and make a plan to vote on August 9 and November 8.

Union Members Hard At Work Replacing Lead Service Lines in Milwaukee Thanks to President Biden’s Infrastructure Law

On Wednesday, White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu visited Milwaukee to see firsthand the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act dollars at work. Union members from the Wisconsin Laborers, Plumbers Union, Operating Engineers, and IBEW met with Landrieu to tour a lead pipe replacement site on Milwaukee’s southside.

Wisconsin’s working men and women are hard at work replacing lead pipes across Wisconsin so that every child can have safe, clean drinking water in the home. Investment from President Biden’s infrastructure bill will speed up remediation work to ensure healthy families and safer communities.

Speaking at the worksite press conference were Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Almeta Ellis Field Director of For our Future, and Deanna Branch,  mother of two lead poisoned children and member of the Coalition on Lead Emergency.

“I want to thank the laborers, the plumbers, the operating engineers and all who are out here in the sun, working to delivery healthy brains and healthy children for our future while at the same time delivering a healthy workforce,” said Congresswoman Gwen Moore. “I am happy that these union jobs are going to provide opportunities for our families to economically thrive and opportunities for families to be healthy and have decent drinking water.”

“This is an issue impacting families and communities everywhere, but it is an issue that impacts low-income and community of colors the worst,” said Milwaukee resident Deanna Branch whose two children were hospitalized multiple times with lead poisoning. Branch praised the Biden Administration for making lead eradication a priority.

“Lead poisoning in children in Wisconsin is a real and serious problem and we have no time to waste to ensure quality drinking water in our homes,” said Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale who attended the worksite tour and press event. “Not only does infrastructure investment create good jobs and life-long career opportunities, it means building stronger and better communities with safe water, high-speed internet, better roads and bridges, healthy ports and waterways, expanded public transportation, reliable power and more. This once in a generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure would not be possible without the leadership of President Biden.”  

“The idea is pretty simple from the President,” said Senior Adviser to the President Landrieu. “The President thinks America’s best days are ahead. He thinks we can do great things when we come together, across race, across geography, across party and then when we find common ground, we can build an America better than she ever has been.”

We are seeing the benefits of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act right now in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin. The infrastructure law includes the following investments for Wisconsin:

• Funding $5.2 billion for highway repairs and $225 million for bridge replacements and repairs.
• Providing more than $590 million in public transit and $79 million to expand Wisconsin's network of EV charging stations.
• Bringing high-speed internet to some 318,000 Wisconsinites who currently lack access.
• Spending $841 million to eliminate lead pipes in Wisconsin and provide clean drinking water in the state.

“I’m grateful Congress passed and President Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure law, making infrastructure funding a priority to our cities and states,” said Milwaukee Mayor Johnson. “President Biden worked with both parties in order to get this done. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act law established a dedicated funding source for lead service line replacement for the first time and is a much needed boost to Milwaukee programs and stands to create good-paying, family-supporting union jobs.”

Union Members Rally Outside Sen. Johnson’s Office to Pass the PRO Act

Wisconsin union members gathered for a rally hosted by the Communications Workers of America to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. Working people gathered outside Senator Ron Johnson’s downtown office in Milwaukee to urge the Senator to support workers and good jobs by supporting and passing the PRO Act in the Senate. Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Mandela Barnes, Sara Godlewski, and Alex Lasry joined the rally to show their support for working people and the Protecting the Right to Organize Act. State Assembly Representative Christine Sinicki, Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale, CWA Staff Representative Clinton Rodgers and workers Justin Otto and Troy Brewer addressed the rally.

The Protecting the Right to Organize Act would update labor law to better meet the needs of working people organizing unions in their workplace. The PRO Act would increase penalties for violations of workers’ rights, strengthen support for workers who suffer retaliation when forming a union, prohibit employers from interfering in union elections and require dispute resolution to improve the ability of workers to negotiate a first contract. Notably, the PRO Act would prohibit employers from forcing employees to attend “captive audience” meetings and require employers to report payments to shady, union-busting firms.

Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale fired up the rally: 

“Here we are out front of Ron Johnson’s office -- can he hear us?” asked Bloomingdale. “We want to pass the PRO Act now. Let’s pass the PRO Act because workers in America need a fair shot at having a union. The best way to have a good life in America is to have a union card. And the PRO Act is essential for us to have a better life in America. Without strong unions, working people don’t have a chance.”

 

Clinton Rodgers, Staff Representative at CWA kicked off the rally stating,  “there is no shortage of workers. There is a shortage of jobs that allow workers to have enough money to pay our rent and our mortgages. There is a shortage of jobs that allow workers to carry a union card to have a voice in the workplace. We’re letting Ron Johnson know that we are not going to take it anymore. We want good jobs and union rights with the PRO Act.”

Justin Otto, a new union member who recently helped formed a union at the Pabst Theater Group in Milwaukee detailed the common obstacles workers face when forming a union. “We need to pass the PRO Act so all workers who want to democracy in their workplace don’t have to deal with such an undemocratic process in order to form a union.”

Troy Brewer, who works in hospitality at the Fiserv Forum explained that becoming a union member and union leader is one of the best accomplishments of his life and he is ready for the November election. “I am taking it personal that Ron Johnson doesn’t care about the working class or essential workers. I’ve been here outside this office three times without so much as a peep from Ron Johnson or his office. This election is important. Let’s get out the vote and get Ron Johnson out of here.” 

The PRO ACT passed the U.S. House with bipartisan support on March 9, 2021. Thankfully, Senator Tammy Baldwin has been a co-sponsor of the PRO Act since day one. America’s workers will continue our full court press until the PRO Act is passed in the Senate.