Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed being the first female president of the state federation and the fight for workers’ rights.
Bloomingdale was raised in a union household and became hooked on organizing at an early age, which paved the way for her to work for the American Federation of Teachers to help create public policy for nurses. In this role, her main focus was to ensure Wisconsin nurses could work in a safer, more supportive environment.
After her election as the first female President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, she was confronted with an anti-union legislative agenda pushed by then Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Despite a reputation as a tough negotiator, Bloomingdale could not prevent Wisconsin from becoming a So-Called “Right to Work” state. After Walker’s failed re-election bid in 2018, she worked with Gov. Tony Evers and members of the legislature to overturn many of Walker’s anti-worker and anti-union policies, but admitted there is more to do in the fight for workers’ rights.
Bloomingdale then shared her hopes for the future of organized labor, and explained the importance of educating the public about labor and the issues important to it. She sees the current organizing push led by the younger generation, and expects more of them, as they fight for better wages and more rights in the workplace. Bloomingdale also believes the public needs to be educated about organizing and the possible labor-busting techniques they might encounter at work.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.