Laura Dresser, Center on Wisconsin Strategy associate director.

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Content referencing Laura Dresser

Labor Leaders Want 2024 To Be A Big Year for Unions

Labor Leaders Want 2024 To Be A Big Year for Unions

Poll says a supermajority of Americans now say they support unions. Groups hope to deliver more wins for workers.

State’s Union Membership Up Slightly in 2023

State’s Union Membership Up Slightly in 2023

While rate declined nationally, it rose in Wisconsin from 7.1% of workers to 7.4%.

Report Gives Mixed Outlook on State’s Workers

Report Gives Mixed Outlook on State’s Workers

Workers at the bottom 'did better than those at the top, reducing wage inequality.'

Record Low Unemployment Gives State’s Workers Bargaining Power

Record Low Unemployment Gives State’s Workers Bargaining Power

Lowest-wage workers have seen the biggest gains from tight labor market.

Wisconsin A Leader In Labor Force Participation

Wisconsin A Leader In Labor Force Participation

State's prime working-age women lead the way.

Murphy’s Law: 41% of Milwaukee Workers Have ‘Bad’ Jobs
Murphy’s Law

41% of Milwaukee Workers Have ‘Bad’ Jobs

Study: 100,000 workers in city earn less than $15 per hour, often with no health coverage.

State Job Layoffs a Sign of Economic Slowdown?

State Job Layoffs a Sign of Economic Slowdown?

Rise in layoffs so far in 2023. But unemployment in Wisconsin still near historic low.

COWS Releases New Report on Low Wage Service Jobs in Milwaukee
Press Release

COWS Releases New Report on Low Wage Service Jobs in Milwaukee

Report finds more than half of Milwaukee’s Black and brown workers earn less than $15 per hour

State Sees Rise in Child Labor Complaints

State Sees Rise in Child Labor Complaints

Part of a national trend. 'This is not a 19th century problem — this is a today problem.'

Anti-Labor Laws Have Hurt Workers, But Provided Little Help To Governments

Anti-Labor Laws Have Hurt Workers, But Provided Little Help To Governments

Analysis finds efforts to drive costs down on things like road construction haven't succeeded

Union Organizers Share Stories, Strategies

Union Organizers Share Stories, Strategies

Younger workers key to success, say representatives from Pabst Theater, other union efforts.

Jobs Up, Joblessness Down Last Month

Jobs Up, Joblessness Down Last Month

State sees modest improvement in October numbers with a continuing shortage of workers.

Wisconsin’s Jobless Rate Remains at 3.9%

Wisconsin’s Jobless Rate Remains at 3.9%

Job gains were offset by job losses in September.

Will Pandemic Benefits’ End Ease Worker Shortage?

Will Pandemic Benefits’ End Ease Worker Shortage?

Research iffy on whether extended unemployment benefits created disincentive to work.

Work Won’t Be The Same After the Pandemic

Work Won’t Be The Same After the Pandemic

UW researchers examine the state of work in Wisconsin with annual report.

Still Fighting for $15

Still Fighting for $15

It’s been 12 years since the state or federal minimum wage was increased.

Why Is There A Worker Shortage?

Why Is There A Worker Shortage?

Employers disagree, but big decline in child care centers could be a key issue.

Employment, Unemployment Both Rising

Employment, Unemployment Both Rising

In April, number of people in state working rose by 7,100 even as unemployment rate rose.

How Act 10 Changed Wisconsin Unions

How Act 10 Changed Wisconsin Unions

Public sector unions contend with declining membership, reduced political power and restricted collective bargaining rights.

Wisconsin Unemployment Grew in December

Wisconsin Unemployment Grew in December

Unemployment rate has fluctuated since September.

Wisconsin Unemployment Increased in October

Wisconsin Unemployment Increased in October

Service sector lost nearly 30,000 jobs.

Pandemic Shines Spotlight on Workers’ Struggle

Pandemic Shines Spotlight on Workers’ Struggle

Crisis makes Labor Day 2020 like no other, experts at roundtable discussion say.

The State of Politics: Wisconsin Invented Unemployment Insurance
The State of Politics

Wisconsin Invented Unemployment Insurance

Jobless benefits began in 1932 with $15 check. Program now crucial during pandemic.

COVID-19 Pandemic Hitting Low-Wage Workers Hardest

COVID-19 Pandemic Hitting Low-Wage Workers Hardest

Low-wage workers are more likely to lose their job and get the virus.

Wisconsinites Starting To Ignore Stay-At-Home Order

Wisconsinites Starting To Ignore Stay-At-Home Order

State residents starting to experience “quarantine fatigue.”

Reopen Wisconsin Rally Planned

Reopen Wisconsin Rally Planned

A group is organizing a protest of the stay at home order, much like the one in Michigan.

Op Ed: Trump Running On The Economy
Op Ed

Trump Running On The Economy

But warning signs are flashing nationally and in Wisconsin.

Midwest, State’s Racial Gaps Grow

Midwest, State’s Racial Gaps Grow

State’s African Americans far behind in education, employment, wages.

State’s Middle Class Hasn’t Rebounded

State’s Middle Class Hasn’t Rebounded

Study finds 55.7% of state’s households are middle-income, down from 59.7% in 2000.

Left Behind by the Economic Recovery

Left Behind by the Economic Recovery

Study of state shows stagnant wages for most and pockets of rural and urban unemployment.

Op Ed: BadgerCare Changes Will Hurt Workers
Op Ed

BadgerCare Changes Will Hurt Workers

Most Medicaid recipients work, could lose health care under Walker proposal.

Wisconsin Budget: Uneven Progress for Wisconsin Workers
Wisconsin Budget

Uneven Progress for Wisconsin Workers

Slow job growth, wage stagnation and one in four workers earn poverty wages.