Wisconsin AFL-CIO 34th Biennial Convention

President Bloomingdale took to the stage following her nomination for President: “Brothers and Sisters, as I look out across the room this afternoon, I am truly moved. Please know that I consider the faith you have placed in me as your Wisconsin AFL-CIO President both a great honor and a sacred trust. I humbly accept this continued role with all the gravity it deserves.”

President Bloomingdale’s speech touched on many issues currently facing working people such as gig work, AI and changing technology in the workplace, predatory pricing practices, and upcoming November elections.

“As any old-school organizer will tell you, there are two poles of power in society: money and people. They have the money. Brothers and sisters, what do we have? The people.”

Union members can look ahead to another four years of dedicated, smart, forward-thinking leadership from President Bloomingdale.

Resolution No. 1 It’s Better Together, In a Union

Resolution No. 2 Our Unions are the Organized Power of Working People

Resolution No. 3 Restoring Union Rights in Wisconsin

Resolution No. 4 In Support of a Democracy that Works for All of Us

Resolution No. 5 Creating Good Jobs Today and Tomorrow

Resolution No. 6 In Support of Immigration Reform

Resolution No. 7 Safeguarding Public Education

Resolution No. 8 Strengthen Wisconsin’s Multi-Modal Transportation System

Resolution No. 9 Protecting our Public Services

Resolution No. 10 Support the Wisconsin Idea, Fund Wisconsin’s Higher Ed

Resolution No. 11 No Contract, No (Starbucks) Coffee

Resolution No. 12 Safeguarding the VA Covenant

Resolution No. 13 Support the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund

Resolution No. 14 Healthy Lives, Affordable Care, & Accessible Providers

Resolution No. 15 Union Members Stand Up for One Another

Resolution No. 16 In Support of Affordable Groceries & Good Jobs

Resolution No. 17 Suicide Prevention

Resolution No. 18 Expanding Apprenticeships

Resolution No. 19 Oppose Big Tech’s Efforts to Eliminate our Rights

Resolution No. 20 Strong & Independent Postal Service, Safety on the Job for Letter Carriers

Resolution No. 21 A Dignified Retirement for All

Resolution No. 22 A Care Agenda for All

Resolution No. 23 Labor 2026

Resolution No. 24 Reaffirms Past Convention Action on Legislative Issues

Congratulations to newly elected officers President Bloomingdale and Secretary-Treasurer Alfaro and to all the new and returning Executive Board Members of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. Ready to stand up, speak out and win for workers!

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler made the trip to Milwaukee to address the convention on Tuesday. In her remarks, she fired up the crowd on the issues facing Wisconsin workers and celebrated recent victories that the Wisconsin labor movement has achieved. Shuler also discussed the upcoming election and issued a clarion call for Wisconsin unions to rise and meet the moment. “Because we are the only institution, the only movement with the power to answer every challenge this country is facing right now,” she said. “We bring people together across party lines. We check corporate power; We defend our democracy; We give people hope …and we go out and get shit done!” Shuler declared. “Everything we’ve won as working people in this country we won because we fought for it. Because we knew it was worth it for ourselves and every generation after us. So Wisconsin family — are you ready for that fight?? Are you ready to go get it done??? Let’s go!!”

Devin Remiker, Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, shared that he comes from a union family and recalled a childhood story of making and delivering a big pot of chili with this Father to a strike line in Two Rivers. “My Dad said, he was part of a union and even though he wasn’’t on strike, that what we do as union members is stand together and support one another.”

It’s a lesson Remiker incorporates into his work at the DPW.

The 2026 Ralph A. Jirikowic Award for community service was awarded to Scott Spearo, UFCW Local 1473 Union Representative and Waukesha County Labor Council Treasurer for his outstanding community service.

In order to receive the highest award the Wisconsin AFL-CIO can offer for service to the community, the recipient must have demonstrated a continuous record of dedicated service in the workplace, the local union, and the community.

“I always say at the labor council, as union members, we are the helpers and the doers in our community and I am just doing my part to be active and help out in my community.”

Congratulations, Scott! Delegates were on their feet for this well-deserved recognition.

Secretary-Treasurer Marcos Alfaro, USW Local 125, opened his speech by expressing his gratitude for every one in the room. “Our work is not in vain. We didn’t start this movement; we work together to carry this movement forward and live our values. And we must treat one another and care for one another, for all workers, like we would our siblings, our brothers and sisters.”

Growing up as a migrant farm worker, Alfaro met his wife in the cucumber fields before settling down and landing a union foundry job in the Two Rivers area.

“Like so many working people, I have faced challenges and struggles in my life. As my Dad always said, you can’t let it make you bitter, you must let it make you better.”

Crystal Weise, Policy & Programs Director at the AFL-CIO Tech Institute, spoke on the predatory practice of dynamic pricing and the negative impact it is having on working families’ paycheck. With sky-high grocery and gas prices, corporations are using technology – specifically Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) – that replace workers and increase prices. ESLs connect pricing systems to AI, enabling stores to change prices and replace workers who would traditionally be manually changing price labels. This results in less hours worked and lost wages.

You may have seen these digital labels at PickNSave, MetroMart, and Kroger locally. ESLs are predatory to all customers as the prices are targeting customers based on algorithms to change the price of a product on individual customers. For example, coffee can be more expensive in the morning and allergy medication can become more expensive when pollen levels are high.

Weise acknowledged the great work the UFCW union is doing nationally to tackle the issue of predatory pricing. The UFCW campaign has to date introduced dozens of bills across the country to combat predatory practices in pricing of our basic everyday goods and necessities.

Congresswoman Gwen Moore joined the convention via video reminding delegates that working people organized, fought, and died for the rights we have today and we are continuing that fight for all people.

“I know that what happens in Washington directly impacts Wisconsin workers and we are ready to continue to fight for federal policies that put working people first and protect workers rights. Solidarity FOREVER!”

Governor Tony Evers addressed the crowd and remarked that this would be his last WI AFL-CIO Convention as Governor before retirement.

Governor Evers highlighted the work his administration undertook to support working Wisconsinites such as strengthening workers’ compensation laws, taking on worker misclassification and wage theft, investing in neighborhood schools, making child care more affordable, and boosting economic opportunity by supporting strong unions and good jobs.

Our democracy is strongest when working people get out and make our voices heard at the polls. We are fighting for an economy that works for all of us and a Wisconsin with strong unions and collective bargaining rights so that everyone who works hard can get ahead and make ends meet. People want leaders who will stand up for us, focus on the issues we care most about, deliver real solutions that support working people and protect our democracy.

As we head towards the November 3 election, much is at stake. Working people have the chance to vote in a pro-worker majority in state government. This won’t happen if we sit on the sidelines.

Get involved with our union member to union member political mobilization program at wisaflcio.org/mobilize . Help us make calls, knock on our neighbors’ doors, write postcards, and turn out the union member vote.

Sign up at: wisaflcio.org/mobilize

Readying for Tuesday’s general session here in the Regency Ballroom at the Downtown Milwaukee Hyatt.

Delegates headed to the top floor of the Hyatt Regency for an evening reception overlooking the City of Milwaukee. As the sun set, union members enjoyed union-made beer and union-served food.

Thanks to UAW Brewery Workers Local 9 for brewing the beer and thanks to hotel staff, members of Workers United Local 122, who served the reception.

Union camaraderie was on full display as delegates mingled and took in the sights high above the city.

Tonights festivities were sponsored by the Coalition of Labor Liaisons.

Don’t forget to showcase your union pride by wearing your union colors on the convention floor Tuesday morning.

Share your convention photos with us at @wisaflcio on Twitter/X or tag us on Facebook and Instagram.

Sarah Godlewski, Secretary of State and Wisconsin AFL-CIO endorsed candidate for Lieutenant Governor closed out the day on Monday and told the story of the union legacy that is represented on the ticket this Fall.

“The first thing I did when we received the Wisconsin AFL-CIO endorsement was call my family to share the news,” Godlewski said as she emphasized her parent’s union roots.

Godlewski also emphasized Tom Tiffany’s zero percent rating with labor and his 100% rating in voting with Donald Trump. “Do we need to defeat Tom Tiffany?” she asked the attendees. “You betcha!” she concluded.

Ben Wikler, author & former chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, addressed the convention on his views on how labor can power change in Wisconsin and across the country. Wikler discussed how Democrats followed labor and labor’s energy sparked a long and successful fight back. “Initially it was tough and we faced setbacks, but we’ve continued to fight and won 17 of the last elections in partnership with the labor movement,” said Wikler.

“In 2025, Elon Musk tried to buy our elections and he showed up with 56 million dollars, more than any other state supreme court race,” expained Wikler. “And what happened? The people threw him out with an election night landslide.”

Monday afternoon included a worker-led panel focused on recent organizing wins and current campaigns in the state of Wisconsin including campaigns at Starbucks, Festival Foods, Planned Parenthood, St Mary’s Nurses, Brightspeed Internet, and Wisconsin Sign & Barrel.

Panelists discussed obstacles they faced in their organizing campaign, and told their unique stories on how they overcame those obstacles to get a first contract. The panel was moderated by South Central Federation of Labor President Kevin Gundlach and provided many useful testimonies on how our collective action can win the establishment of a union and winning a fair contract for all members. “Having the central labor councils as the centers of solidarity has been essential in our campaigns,” said Carlos Ginard, Vice President of the Chicago Midwest Regional Joint Board for Workers United. “Whenever we have needed help, they have always been there for us,” he said.

Panelists included: Nick Carone, UFCW Connie Smith, WFNHP-AFT Nick Webber, IBEW Local 953 Louis Davis, SEIU Wisconsin Carlos Ginard, CMRJB Workers United Kent Miller, Wisconsin Laborers District Council

SEIU Wisconsin was recognized and awarded the 2026 WI AFL-CIO Organizing Award.

This spring, over 850 registered nurses at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison came together and voted overwhelmingly to form a union with SEIU Wisconsin. The election is one of the largest private-sector Wisconsin union elections in recent history.

Ericka Crowley, wife of Milwaukee County Executive and Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate David Crowley, is a mother of three and a leader who works to serve families facing housing challenges. Ericka spoke about her husband’s record of supporting housing, public transit, parks, and infrastructure, as well as his commitment to creating good union jobs. At the heart of that work, she said, is one of their core values: the dignity of work.

She shared: “David has long supported raising the minimum wage, and he will continue to fight for the wages that working families deserve. When we invest in our communities, we create jobs — good, union jobs. We create paychecks that can support a family. And when families have that security, that money goes back into our local economies and strengthens our communities.”

Standing together with co-workers in a union makes a tangible difference you can feel every day. Here are just a few benefits:

• Union households have 1.7 times the median wealth of nonunion households, and workers in labor unions make 18% more in wages than our nonunion counterparts.
• Union workers are more likely to have health care benefits. More than nine out of 10 union members have access to employer-provided health insurance, compared to 68% of nonunion workers.
• We work in safer workplaces. One study found job sites that were unionized have lost-time claims at a 31% lower rate than non-unionized sites.
• We have more job security—even and especially in moments of economic uncertainty.
• Countries where most workers are in a union are among the happiest and healthiest on Earth.

Delegates are back in the convention hall and ready for the afternoon session.

Monday lunch break is from 12:00 pm to 1:30 PM. Head to Third Street Market Hall - voted one of the TOP 5 FOOD HALLS in the US ranked by USA Today! Check out these local restaurants:

Wisconsin State Senator La Tonya Johnson of Milwaukee spoke about the life-changing impact of union jobs and how they helped provide greater stability and opportunity for her family.

Senator Johnson shared that the first time her family had running water in their home was when she was 12 years old, growing up in Milwaukee’s 53206 ZIP code. She said that access to greater economic opportunity came through her family obtaining a union job in Milwaukee—an experience that has stayed with her throughout her career.

“You don’t forget your personal experiences,” Johnson said, emphasizing that a hard day’s work deserves fair pay and a safe workplace.

Johnson called for restoring Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) and prevailing-wage protections, repealing Act 10, and holding elected officials accountable. “Now is the time to restore your rights. In November, we have that opportunity because of you,” she said.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, who is up for re-election in November, spoke about his office’s efforts to challenge actions by the federal administration that he characterized as harmful to Wisconsin, including efforts involving federal funding, government priorities, and election administration.

AG Kaul highlighted the dozens of legal challenges his office has filed, emphasizing that Wisconsin has secured favorable outcomes in a number of those cases. “We keep winning because they’re blatantly violating the law, and we are getting real results in these challenges,” Kaul said.

Kaul also discussed protecting Wisconsin’s elections in November, saying his office will be closely monitoring polling places to help ensure that voters can cast their ballots without interference. “This is about making sure that those in power don’t take power away from the voters like Elon tried to do in our last election,” he said.

Wisconsin Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer highlighted the importance of the upcoming election and the work already underway to move Wisconsin forward in a different direction.

“We are now just over a month away from an election that can take Wisconsin down a different path. Thank you for being with us in this fight for many years. It was not always clear that we would get here, and we’ve done the work to protect the veto, protect the governor, and flipped the state Supreme Court.”

Neubauer emphasized the candidates’ strong focus on grassroots organizing, noting that campaigns are knocking 350–600 doors each week, with the goal of reaching every door. She described Wisconsin as having the highest door-knocking rate in the country.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson gave a warm welcome to attendees, celebrating Milwaukee as a proud union town and highlighting the deep connection between the city’s history, its workers, and the labor movement.

The Mayor emphasized that Milwaukee was built by working people and that unions have played a central role in building the city’s neighborhoods, infrastructure, industries, and middle class. He spoke about the importance of protecting good union jobs, fair wages, and the dignity that comes with having a job that allows working people and their families to build a future.

The Mayor also congratulated the Milwaukee Brewers on their 103 wins, celebrating the pride and energy that the team brings to the city and its working families.

“The economy comes down to the people. And that means good jobs and fair wages.”

Report of the Rules Committee was read by Ann McNeary, CWA, and adopted by the delegates. The Report of the Credentials Committee was read by Chair Jim Meyer IBEW Local 2150 Business Manager and adopted by the delegates. Corey Gall, Wisconsin Pipe Trades, read the Secretary-Treasurer’s report which was adopted by delegates.

Executive Board members joined Wisconsin AFL-CIO Officers onstage. After the Opening Ceremonies, they took a moment to introduce themselves.

President Stephanie Bloomingdale called the 34th Convention of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO to Order on Monday, September 28. Jerry Biggart, President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, and the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Honor Guard proceeded with opening ceremonies with the Presentation of the Colors. Milwaukee Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey Robert Haines, provided the Invocation. Pam Fendt, President of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council and member of LIUNA Local 113 provided a welcome to delegates. Our Code of Conduct was read by WI AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Marcos Alfaro.

Delegates are gathering here at the Hyatt Regency. Get ready for the opening ceremonies at 10 am. Check out the agenda for today here: Agenda

It’s Better Together, In a Union – the 34th Biennial Convention of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO will convene at 10:00 am on Monday, September 28, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency in Milwaukee and continue in session until the business of the Convention is completed on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

Your online resource for all things related to the convention is here at wiaflcio34.org. Use this website and your delegate password to find important delegate information including our agenda and run of show, 2026 Resolutions, Committee Reports and more.

The 34th Biennial Convention of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO is a time to join together with fellow union members across region and industry in strength and solidarity to strategize, organize, and empower workers to grow our labor movement. Let’s get down to business as we stand together to advance union rights and secure strong union freedoms for all! Don’t forget to check out the beautiful city of Milwaukee while in town.

IATSE Local 18 stagehands and Wisconsin AFL-CIO staff are hard at work preparing the Regency Ballroom and Convention Hall for your 34th Biennial Wisconsin AFL-CIO Convention. It’s Better Together, In a Union.

Since the founding of America, the health of our democracy has been tied to the well-being of working people. While names like Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison and the world’s first trillionaire, Elon Musk, dominate the headlines, it’s actually America’s workers who drive economic growth, foster stability, and promote democratic values through civic engagement. Labor Day is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate that reality.

Policies that benefit the wealthy few at the expense of the rest of us threaten the very fabric of our society. Abraham Lincoln once observed, “I see a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country… corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.” Today’s billionaires-first agenda would give him little comfort.

Wealth disparity is nothing new in our country. However, we live in an era of especially high inequality. Data from the Federal Reserve shows that low- and middle-income households are falling further behind, while those at the top pull further ahead. The top one percent of U.S. households now control nearly one-third of America’s total wealth. That’s the highest share since the Fed began tracking that data. Last year, the average CEO pay at S&P 500 companies increased 21% to more than $22 million. Meanwhile, too many of the rest of us who did not receive massive raises are struggling to pay the bills.

Fortunately, America’s working people are embracing a critical principle to counter the corrosive effect this hyper-concentration of wealth has on our economy and our democracy: solidarity. By standing together in unions, workers gain the power to fight back. In the last year across America, nearly half a million workers joined a union for the first time. There are more union members in America today than at any time in the last sixteen years. Polling shows public approval of unions is at a level last seen in the early 1960s. That’s good news for everyone.

The advantages unions provide our members are clear: fair wages, healthcare and other benefits, safer working conditions, and the ability to retire with dignity. But the positive effects unions bring extend well beyond our membership. In states where more workers are organized, overall wages are higher and income disparities are smaller, especially among women and people of color. Civic engagement is greater, with higher voter turnout and voter mobilization, and more working-class candidates elected to office.

At this moment in our history, the collective power of joining together in a union is critical to avoiding the grim scenario President Lincoln foretold. The latest Marquette Law School poll found that inflation and the cost of living is by far the top issue on people’s minds. The US inflation rate hit 4.2% in May, wiping out 3.4% in wage growth for the past year. This is not sustainable. A vibrant democracy cannot be supported by an economy that does not provide working people with the ability to meet their basic needs.

The Officers and Executive Board of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO are excited to welcome you to the 34th Biennial Convention of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO.

Our theme is: It’s Better Together, in a Union.

The Convention will convene at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee on Monday, September 28, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and continue in session until the business of the Convention is completed on Tuesday, September 29.

This 34th Biennial Convention of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO is a time to join together with fellow union members across region and industry in strength and solidarity to strategize, organize, and empower workers to grow our labor movement.

Union members are the engine of our American middle class and drive prosperity for our state and nation. We stand together to advance union rights and freedoms and secure strong union contracts for all because: It’s Better Together, in a Union.

See you in Milwaukee!

In Solidarity,

Stephanie Bloomingdale, President

Marcos Alfaro, Secretary-Treasurer

If you find yourself with time after check-in today, explore the nearby sights along the river. You’re sure to find union support!

Thank you for joining us in Milwaukee. For more information about the hotel visit their website!