Workers Fight for Fairness in the Capitol

Yesterday, more than 20 Wisconsin workers led a new movement into the state capitol, demanding legislators prioritize all families and working people across the state.

In collaboration with the Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Union (MASH), representing 1,150 service and hospitality workers, and Worker Justice Wisconsin (WJW), representing low-wage, non-unionized, immigrant workers in Dane County, workers united for Worker Power Day, demanding a living wage, stronger wage theft laws, and the ability for communities to set their own labor standards.

Yesterday’s capitol visit marks a pivotal moment in the growing movement to reimagine Wisconsin by reclaiming power for working people and building an economy that works for everyone—not just the wealthy few.

A few workers shared why they were there:

“I believe in organizing. I believe in bringing people together that have the same basic concerns about what’s going on, not just with themselves, but with everyone.”

“Even though we all live very different lives, we all face similar struggles. The more that we recognize that and band together to fight for those rights, I think the greater chance of success that we’ll have.”

“We’ve heard it over and over and over again that united we’re stronger.”

Worker Power Day policy priorities included:

Raise the minimum wage to a living wage of at least $20/hour. 

Workers are the backbone of Wisconsin’s economy, yet they are forced to survive on wages that don’t come close to meeting the cost of living. Wisconsin’s minimum wage is still $7.25/hour—unchanged since 2009 despite economic downturns and a pandemic. Tipped workers can still make as little as $2.33/hour.

One attendee from Worker Justice Wisconsin shared:

“Everything around us has gone up in price, and I don’t know how long since the minimum wage has been increased, but it’s incredible that we are expected to be able to survive on these wages, when in the world everything else has only gotten more expensive.”

One MASH member remarked:

“Whether $7.25 in 2009 or $15 in 2012 when we started fighting for that, minimum wage hasn’t been a living wage in Wisconsin for too long because politicians haven’t made this a priority.  We need all workers in all jobs to be paid a living wage because all of our labor has dignity.”

Criminalize all wage theft cases and hold greedy employers accountable.  

Low wage workers are struggling to meet basic needs, but, even worse, some are not getting paid what little they’re owed.  In Wisconsin, $200 million is lost annually due to misclassification and payroll fraud. From 2021–2023, workers reclaimed $1.6 billion in stolen wages nationwide. And, undocumented workers are more likely to get their wages stolen despite paying millions in state taxes per year.

“This money isn’t just a number on a piece of paper. It’s what I need to cover the basic needs of my family. Not being able to pay rent, food, car expenses, and utilities like the electric bill, it’s all very stressful for me,” one worker, who was able to recover $7,000 in stolen wages from his former employer, shared. “This money represents my daily sustenance. Every month that goes by without payment makes my situation that much harder.”

“Often, they try to instill fear in us and intimidate us because of our immigration status, and often we believe that we don’t have rights, or that there is no solution, but this is not the case. Hispanic or Latino, regardless of our immigration status, we do have rights. And we have to fight for them, because we’re human beings, and we deserve the same respect as any other person.” shared Agustín, who was part of the collective $36,000 case against LNR Services. 

Empower communities to establish their own labor standards by restoring local control. 

Allow municipalities to raise standards where the state won’t. Local governments like Madison and Milwaukee are legally blocked—known as preemption—from passing their own minimum wage laws or wage theft ordinances—even when they face high local cost of living.

Learn more about the Reimagine Wisconsin platform here.