Build Worker Power
Every parent or caregiver in Wisconsin deserves to have a secure foundation to raise their family. But for too long, the wealthy and powerful few have eroded our workplace protections in order to grow their profits. They’ve also fueled false narratives, hoping we’ll blame our neighbors instead of them for the problems they created. As a result, thousands of families in communities across the state are exploited by employers and excluded by decision makers. We envision a Wisconsin where every family has the freedom to thrive and receive a fair return on their work, no exceptions.
Fighting for Every Worker
Black, Brown, Indigenous, and rural communities are facing huge economic challenges: low wages, wage theft, and exploitative labor practices.
Despite legislative power often aligning with corporate interests, Wisconsin’s workers are actively fighting to improve job conditions—and they are winning!
In partnership with Worker Justice Wisconsin, Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Union, and the High Road Strategy Center, we’re building worker power across Wisconsin by:
- Upholding the belief that every worker deserves dignity and respect for their labor.
- Committing to a statewide partnership to improve local and state policies for workers.
- Developing an anti-racist, anti-austerity agenda that prioritizes workers’ needs.
- Partnering with workers, researchers, and grassroots organizations to host educational events and create data resources.
The Diversity of Immigrants and Refugees in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has been shaped by successive waves of newcomers seeking refuge, opportunity, and a place to call home for centuries. Today, about 295,000 immigrants call Wisconsin home, and they participate in the tapestry of our state in many ways.
Yet while the wealthy few rig the system to line their pocketbooks, stripping workplace protections and keeping wages low, Wisconsinites are left looking for someone to blame for their struggles. They often falsely blame immigrants. Rooted in racism and xenophobia, many Wisconsin legislators make life harder for immigrant families, creating barriers that hurt both immigrants and non-immigrants alike. We provide analysis that highlights the immigrant experience in Wisconsin, and how hurting immigrants often ends up hurting other families across the state.
I arrived to this country from La Paz, Bolivia about 37 years ago. And like many of the new immigrants, you know, uncertain of my future, not speaking English, facing a lot of challenges…. At that time I didn’t experience seeing any Latinos for example here in Dane county. So the adjustment was really tough.
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