Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

President Biden Keeps Delivering for Working Families

Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale released the following statement as President Joe Biden visits Superior to announce nearly $5 billion for major transportation projects across the United States: 

“President Biden keeps delivering for Wisconsin working families and working people across our nation in his unwavering commitment to creating good jobs and growing our middle class. New federal investments announced by the Biden Administration today in Superior, Wisconsin will create a wave of opportunity for workers to attain good union jobs.  

Included in today’s announcement is a commitment of $1 billion to replace the Blatnik Bridge connecting Duluth and Superior. This is huge news for current union members and soon to be union members whose skills and hard work will go into rebuilding this vital piece of infrastructure which without President Biden’s help was predicted to close by 2030 due to its poor condition.

Communities across our nation will feel the impact of President Biden’s historic commitment to our communities. President Biden’s focus on working families is creating millions of good jobs, boosting small businesses, and updating the foundations our communities rely on so Americans can enjoy safer, more resilient infrastructure for generations to come.”   

Governor Evers Declares 2024 the Year of the Worker

State of Wisconsin Strong with Growing Economy Under Governor Evers’ Leadership

Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, released the following statement on Governor Evers’ 2024 State of the State Address:

Tonight Governor Evers declared 2024 the Year of the Worker. Governor Evers’ focus on workforce development, training and skills education, and infrastructure improvements have led to historically low unemployment, record apprenticeship levels, and good job opportunities for Wisconsinites across the state. In tonight’s State of the State Address, Governor Evers laid out a comprehensive plan to reduce barriers to employment and empower workers.

Thanks to Governor Evers’ outstanding financial stewardship, Wisconsin is in the best fiscal health in state history. It’s time for elected leaders in Madison to come together to pass bipartisan initiatives to stabilize child care, expand paid family leave, grow public transit, and fund public education and public services so we can meet the needs of the 21st century workforce.

The commonsense proposals outlined by Governor Evers in his sixth State of the State Address will encourage and support a thriving middle class with strong unions and increased economic opportunity and should be supported by all in the Wisconsin Legislature.

Wisconsin AFL-CIO Welcomes Vice President Kamala Harris to Wisconsin

Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, released the following statement as Vice President Kamala Harris visits Wisconsin on January 22, 2024:

“Wisconsin workers are excited to have Vice President Kamala Harris in Wisconsin. Vice President Harris is working hand-in-hand with President Joe Biden to expand collective bargaining rights for workers, support new worker organizing, and help working families make ends meet.

The Vice President has made it clear that working people are the backbone of our country and that strong unions are the key to a healthy economy where everyone can thrive and prosper. As Chair of the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, Vice President Harris is leading the charge to empower workers and protect our freedom to organize and bargain with employers so that we can have a strong middle class.” 

Take Action to Protect Licensing in Wisconsin

On Thursday, January 18, the Wisconsin Assembly will take up AB 332, a Reciprocal Credential Bill. If passed, this reciprocal licensing bill will undermine the safety of workers and consumers, depress wages, and lower standards by weakening Wisconsin’s strong licensing system.

Contact your Representative today and urge them to vote NO on AB 332. Legislators can be reached by calling (800) 362-9472 or click here to send an email.

Assembly Bill 332 was introduced by Representative Nate Gustafson (R-Neenah) and Senator Rob Stafsholt (R-New Richmond). This bill would indiscriminately hand out reciprocal professional and occupational licenses to individuals who live in another state or even in another country without regard to educational, apprenticeship, or clinical requirements or standards. If it were to pass, the effect will be lesser-trained workers coming or “zooming” into our state, providing a potentially lower quality product, driving down wages for Wisconsin professionals, and increasing safety risks for consumers and workers alike.

From the exam room to the elevator to the bubbler, and all places in between, we rely on the state licensure of trained professionals every day. Wisconsin’s trained workers also rely on the value of our licenses, which ensure our colleagues and co-workers have received training and appreciate high safety standards and also ensure a consistent work product. Wisconsin’s strong licensing system protects the industries within our state as the industries have been built by trained employees and therefore ensure the skills are high.

Wisconsinites expect and deserve to receive high quality work by licensed, trained, and tested professionals. The foundation of Wisconsin’s licensing system is unique training and educational standards set by experts who serve on our credentialing boards. This foundation of unique training, examination, and experience for various occupations protects both license holders and the public, and serves as the critical link between consumer and worker safety.

Assembly Bill 332 runs counter to Wisconsinites’ expectation of high quality work by licensed, trained, and tested professionals.

Please contact your Assembly Representative today and ask that they oppose AB 332.