Full Platform

Full Wisconsin Labor Party Platform

Preamble

“Democracy means that the working class, the majority of the people, shall rule.” — Eugene V. Debs

The Wisconsin Labor Party is built on the fundamental truth that democracy does not end at the ballot box, and freedom does not stop at the workplace door. A just society requires economic security, political equality, bodily autonomy, and collective power—guaranteed in law and daily life. For too long, Wisconsin’s working people have been asked to struggle more with less, while their wages stagnated, their rights vanished, their voices muted, and their communities exploited for private profit.

We reject an economy and political system that concentrates wealth, power, and decision-making in the hands of corporations and political insiders. This platform is a commitment to rebuild Wisconsin around human dignity, the right to meaningful work, safe housing, quality healthcare, clean water, nutritious food, privacy, and democratic participation.

True labor power requires more than strong unions; it requires a strong democracy. This platform defends and expands voting rights, ends disenfranchisement, guarantees fair redistricting, and modernizes elections through automatic voter registration and electoral reform. Democracy must extend into our workplaces and digital lives, workers deserve transparency, consent, and protection from surveillance, data exploitation, and retaliation.

The Wisconsin Labor Party affirms all rights are inseparable from each other. We stand for bodily autonomy, reproductive freedom, gender-affirming care, LGBTQIA+ equality, racial justice, disability rights, immigrant protections, tribal sovereignty, and an end to all forms of forced wage and modern slavery. No one should be criminalized, excluded, or stripped of dignity for who they are, where they come from, or how they survive.

We believe public resources must serve the public good. Universal healthcare, affordable and stable housing immune from corporate speculation, world class public education, provided school meals, universal childcare, and revitalized infrastructure with union jobs that address the climate crisis. clean energy, clean water, local food systems, strong public media, and antitrust enforcement to break up monopolies that undermine democracy and local communities.

This platform is all of this and more. It lays out a comprehensive vision for a Wisconsin where workers shape the economy; where communities control housing, healthcare, and land; and where democracy is at the center of our elections, our workplaces, and our daily lives. The Wisconsin Labor Party stands with all workers—public and private, union and non-union, documented and undocumented, traditional and gig—because when people have power, Wisconsin has a future.

The Wisconsin Labor Party Believes That Everyone Has A Right To…

A Right to Employment

Job Guarantee - Labor guarantees employment to all Wisconsinites by:

Workforce training programs.
Increased investment in infrastructure, specifically in the clean energy sector.

Reduced employment barriers for targeted populations such as individuals with disabilities, minority populations, and youth.

Strengthened enforcement of fair-hiring practices.
Flexible work arrangements.
Expand mentorship programs.

Amend Wisconsin Chapter 104:

Raise the minimum wage to $22/hr to ensure a livable wage for all citizens.
Abolish Local Ordinance Restriction on the Minimum Wage and allow local municipalities to establish a higher minimum wage.
End modified minimum wage exceptions for certain categories of workers including tipped workers, opportunity employees, and student workers.
End unpaid internships.

Ban the practice of paying imprisoned workers less than the standard minimum wage.

A Right to A Union

Repeal 2011 Wisconsin Act 10

The Wisconsin Labor Party will repeal the 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 to restore public sector unions collective bargaining rights. Repeal allows public sector unions to:

Negotiate wages beyond living wage adjustments.
Negotiate better benefits, including healthcare coverage, pensions, and working conditions.
Remove performance-based (value-added) raises.
Reduce the economic burden of pension contributions and healthcare on employees.
Build the right to collective bargain in the Wisconsin Constitution.

Repeal 2015 Wisconsin Act 1

The Wisconsin Labor Party will repeal the 2015 Wisconsin Act 1 (Right-To-Work Law) to restore the power to private sector unions to collect union dues from all members. This will strengthen unions by giving them more bargaining power for better wages, benefits, and job security.

State and Labor-Focused Governance

Government Contracts Favoring Union Jobs – Ensure taxpayer dollars go to union employers and ethical businesses.
State & Local Union Coordination – Support state and local policies that empower workers and strengthen unions.
Worker Representation in Policy Decisions – Include labor leaders in economic and trade policy discussions.
Protecting Public Healthcare & Education Workers – Ensure fair wages and protections for teachers, nurses, and public employees.

Equal Pay for Equal Work

Enforce Transparency in Pay Structures – Require employers to disclose salary ranges for all positions and provide clear, standardized criteria for raises and promotions.
Make pay data publicly available to expose and reduce unfair compensation.
Steeper Penalties for Wage Discrimination – Impose significant fines on employers found to discriminate.
Allow employees to pursue legal remedies without fear of employer retaliation, including class-action suits.

Protect the Right to Strike and Collective Action

Enact legislation restoring and expanding public-sector workers’ right to strike and engage in collective action.
Prohibit the use of injunctions and emergency powers to suppress lawful labor activity.
The state will require demonstrable good-faith bargaining, mediation, and exhaustion of dispute-resolution mechanisms before any intervention, and will protect workers from retaliation through enforceable civil and administrative remedies.

Restore and Strengthen Wisconsin’s Prevailing Wage Law

Restore Wisconsin’s Prevailing Wage Law (Wis. Stat. § 66.0903) repealed in 2017, requiring union-standard wages and benefits on all public works.
Expand coverage to all projects receiving public funding, including P3s, TIFs, grants, subsidies, and bonding.
Set wages based on collective bargaining agreements and total compensation through the Department of Workforce Development.
Strengthen enforcement with real penalties, anti-retaliation protections, and public transparency to stop wage theft and misclassification.
Prohibit the use of public funds for union-busting, including anti-union consultants, captive-audience meetings, retaliation, or intimidation.
Require certification, audits, and transparency as a condition of grants, tax credits, TIFs, P3s, and public contracts.

Union Rights for Gig, Contract, and Misclassified Workers

Enforce clear standards against misclassification, ensuring workers performing core business functions cannot be denied protections by being labeled independent contractors.
Guarantee union access and organizing rights for gig and contracted workers.
Extend collective bargaining rights to public-sector contracted workers performing ongoing government functions.

Apprenticeships, Training, and Workforce Development

Protect and expand union apprenticeship programs in construction, trades, healthcare, technology, and various other sectors.
Tie public funding, prevailing wages, and procurement to investment in training and career pipelines, especially for youth and underrepresented communities.
Incentivize employers to provide skill-building opportunities for all workers.

Health, Safety, and Ergonomic Protections

Require unions to have a voice in workplace health and safety committees.
Ensure OSHA-style protections are enforced on public projects, with whistleblower protections for safety violations.
Establishment of Union elected Shop Stewards in every workplace, protected against retaliation to oversee and enforce union workplace standards in addition to OSHA to ensure a safe environment by the people on the ground doing the work.

Enforcement and Legal Resources

Ensure state-funded legal aid or advocacy for workers exercising collective bargaining or organizing rights.
Support creation of an ombudsman or labor compliance office specifically to monitor union-related disputes in both private and public sectors.

Legislative and Policy Commitment

All proposals that require legal authority or funding will be pursued through legislation, executive action, and regulatory reform.
The party will seek to balance workers’ rights with practical implementation and small business considerations to ensure fair and sustainable labor protections.

A Right to Democratic Representation

Expand Voting Rights Protections

Voting Rights & Democracy Protection – Expand voting access and stop voter suppression.
End Felony Disfranchisement Laws in Wisconsin - allow all legal U.S. citizens, regardless of convictions, to vote in all elections.
Proportional Representation on all state and local elections.
Automatic Voter Registration - Ensure every eligible person is automatically registered at 18 or upon citizenship.
End the Exception for slavery in the Wisconsin State Constitution (Article I, Section 2).

Protect and Expand Our Democratic Processes

Proportional Representation - Reform elections to achieve a fair representation of the Voters in elected bodies and end the dominance of the two party system.
Support Voting Rights Legislation - Promote bills that protect absentee voting, in-person early voting, and access for all voters.
Increase Transparency - Support legislation requiring the disclosure of donors to "dark money" groups, such as the reintroduction of 2023 Senate Bill 599/Assembly Bill 911.
Promote and encourage more democratization of the workplace through practices including employee ownership, increased transparency from management to employees, allowing voting on company policies, etc.

Public Media Funding & Local Journalism Support

Increased state funding for public media to ensure quality, independent journalism.
Provide grants or tax incentives for local and independent news outlets.

Data Ownership & Security

Right to Privacy & Individual Data Ownership - Recognize that individuals own their personal data; State challenges to and noncompliance with federal mass surveillance programs and agencies.
Control Over Medical & Genetic Data - Prohibit reprisals or discrimination for refusing to share personal health/genetic data.
Strict Privacy Protections - Ban the unauthorized sale of personal data; impose heightened security standards.
Accountability & Enforcement - Establish an independent data oversight commission; require annual audits.

Strict Regulation of Corporate Surveillance & Labor-Tracking Technology

Prohibition on Invasive Monitoring - Ban real-time audio/video or keystroke surveillance unless there is a clear, necessary, and explicitly disclosed purpose agreed to by employees and their union.
Worker Consent & Data Usage Policies - Require meaningful, informed consent for any data collection; mandate employers to provide an easy-to-understand description of how data is stored, analyzed, and shared.
Mandatory Data Deletion - Impose strict deadlines for erasing worker data collected through monitoring; prohibit indefinite personal or behavioral metrics retention.
Anti-Retaliation Protections - Forbid penalizing or terminating workers who refuse or later withdraw consent for invasive data collection, ensuring no coercive “take it or leave it” policies.
Public Oversight & Audits - Empower a state Commission on Data Security to conduct regular audits of workplace surveillance practices, levy fines, and enforce compliance.

Net Neutrality & Broader Digital Rights

Codify Net Neutrality Protections.
Universal & Equitable Broadband Access.
Transparent Data & Network Management.
User Privacy & Data Rights.
Digital Infrastructure & Public Investment.
Competition & Anti-Monopoly Enforcement.

Anti-Monopoly & Trust Busting

Strengthen antitrust enforcement in tech, agriculture, and healthcare. Ban on companies operating in Wisconsin found to be using divided state governments to violate this principle.
Empower new public or cooperative market entrants, ensuring fair pricing and worker control.

Prevent excessive consolidation in the media sector, ensuring a diversity of voices and local journalism.

Ownership Threshold: Enact legislation and regulations capping the number of affiliate stations or overall market share a single company can own, forcing divestitures when holdings exceed that limit.
Restoring Local Media Autonomy: Establish local control over news content by requiring divested stations to return to independent or community-oriented ownership structures.
Strengthened Antitrust Enforcement: Direct the State Department of Justice and a State Communications Commission to investigate and break up existing conglomerates that exceed newly established thresholds.
Transparency & Public Interest: Mandate clear, public-interest obligations for any corporation operating multiple media outlets, including expanded local news coverage and protections for journalists’ editorial independence.
Support for Independent Outlets: Provide grants or low-interest loans to help small, locally owned stations and independent media outlets thrive, fostering competition and diversity of viewpoints.
State support for Wisconsin-made online media companies and programing to promote Wisconsin in New Media.

A Right to Healthcare

Create a Statewide Healthcare Service

Establish BadgerCare, Public Option healthcare coverage for.
Mandate EMS services, free at the point of use, across Wisconsin by declaring them an essential government service.
Strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure.

Stabilize Healthcare Industry Workforce

Focus on recruiting, training, and retaining talent, particularly in essential health services.
Invest in expanding clinical training and apprenticeships to increase the capacity of healthcare education programs.

Make it easier and more affordable for workers to enter the healthcare industry.

Expand apprenticeship programs.
Reduce educational and training barriers.
Streamline licensure processes.
Implement “grow-our-own” initiatives through partnerships with the UW and Wisconsin Technical College systems.
State investment in healthcare related education to make obtaining a certification or degree little to no cost to the student while they learn and work and Wisconsin.

A Right to Housing

Rent Stabilization and Affordability

Statewide Rent Increase Caps: Limit rent increases to no more than 3% per year or the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is lower.
Require justification for rent increases.
Emergency rent freeze during federally and state declared emergency events.
The Wisconsin Labor Party is committed to the construction of a 10% Public Option in housing in major markets.

Tenant and Eviction Protections

Just Cause Eviction Statewide: Require valid legal grounds for eviction.
Rental Deposit, Fee Regulations, and Credit Protections.
Establishment of Tenant Protections Board: formation of an advocacy board to allow tenants a free, non-court solution to disputes with landlords.

Corporate Landlord Regulations

Ban Corporate Ownership of Single-Family Homes: Prohibit hedge funds, private equity firms, and institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes as investment properties.
Regulate limits on large corporate entities’ creation of short term rentals to increase the supply of long term housing and ensure proper tax collection from short term rentals’ landlords and the platforms that offer them.

Ban Corporate Ownership of Single-Family Homes: Prohibit hedge funds, private equity firms, and institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes as investment properties.
Regulate limits on large corporate entities’ creation of short term rentals to increase the supply of long term housing and ensure proper tax collection from short term rentals’ landlords and the platforms that offer them.

A Right to Food & Clean Water

Commitment to Clean Water

Fully fund the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and direct the agency to strengthen its regulations on protecting surface and ground water, specifically by creating stronger regulations on factory farms (CAFOs) and data centers, and promote participation in wellhead protection programs.
Increase the scope and participation in volunteer programs that monitor lake and stream health.
Remove lead piping across Wisconsin.
Incentivize the use of native plants in landscaping practices.
Promote the use of permeable surfaces for parking lots and driveways.
Implement a state-wide water reduction initiative.

Healthy Food Policy

Increase food assistance programs to emphasize access to healthy foods.
More local control over food production by encouraging more locally grown fruits and vegetables through community and home garden projects, incentivizing vertical gardens and urban agriculture, and building community-owned grocery stores.

Anti-Waste & Food Redistribution Policy

The Wisconsin Labor Party supports strict anti-waste measures to combat food insecurity, reduced environmental impact, and ensure surplus goods are redirected to those in need rather than discarded. Grocery stores, supermarkets, large food retailers, and other food providers must prioritize donation over disposal, ensuring that a minimum of 70% of all non-expired surplus food is donated to local organizations such as food banks, shelters, and community kitchens.
Mandatory Food Donation Requirement - Require retailers to donate at least 70% of their non-expired, unsellable food each quarter to registered local organizations.
Waste-to-Donation Ratio Enforcement - Require businesses to not exceed a 30% waste-to-70% donation ratio every quarter.
Tax Incentives for Compliance - Businesses exceeding the minimum donation requirement may be eligible for additional tax deductions and state grants.
Supply Chain Coordination - Mandate coordination between food retailers, distributors, and food recovery organizations to streamline logistics and expand donation infrastructure.
Public Transparency & Reporting - To ensure accountability, businesses must report quarterly donation and waste figures to a state oversight body.

Penalties for Excessive Waste:

Retailers failing to meet the required ratio will be fined an amount equal to 50% of the MSRP value of wasted goods.
Repeated noncompliance will result in higher fines, loss of tax incentives, and potential operational restrictions.

Year-Round Child Nutrition Initiatives

Coordinate with community organizations, libraries, recreation centers and other civic centers as year-round meal distribution points, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Provide grants to community-based nonprofits to operate meal sites during weekends, holidays, and unexpected school closures.

Holistic Support & Education

Integrate nutrition education into curricula, teaching children and families about healthy eating, cooking skills, and how to maximize SNAP benefits.
Partner with local farms and agricultural cooperatives to supply fresh produce for school meals, stimulating local economies while improving meal quality.

Accountability & Funding

Ensure consistent state funding to prevent program shortfalls, with robust oversight to maintain high nutritional standards.
Encourage bulk purchasing, direct-from-farm procurement, and expanded commodity programs building on the work of the USDA to keep costs low while guaranteeing nutritious, high-quality foods.

Strengthen School Meal Programs

Free School Breakfast & Lunch for All Children - Provide universal free breakfast and lunch in public schools to eliminate stigmas and ensure every child receives nutritious daily meals. This includes forgiveness of outstanding “lunch debt.”
Summer Nutrition Programs - Fund and expand summer meal sites, ensuring children who rely on school meals during the academic year continue to have access to healthy, free meals throughout school breaks.
Seamless Enrollment - Automatically enroll eligible children in free meal programs without requiring additional paperwork from families, reducing barriers and ensuring full participation.

Price Fairness & Consumer Protection Measures

The Labor Party supports strict price fairness regulations to prevent excessive price gouging on essential goods and services. These measures will ensure fair market practices by capping unjustified price hikes and holding corporations accountable for exploitative pricing.
Annual Price Increase Cap - Prohibit distributors and retailers from raising prices on essential goods and services by more than 5% within 12 months, except in documented cost increases (e.g., raw materials, production, transportation).
Emergency Price Controls - Enforce stricter temporary price caps during natural disasters, economic downturns, or public health emergencies to prevent profiteering.
Transparency & Justification Requirements - Businesses must publicly disclose any cost-based justification for price increases above the permitted threshold.
Strict Penalties for Violations - Impose significant fines, restitution requirements, and potential sanctions on companies engaging in predatory pricing.

A Right to A Livable Planet

Climate Change Policy

Fully adopt Wisconsin’s Green New Deal and the Forward on Climate package.

Green Amendment

Amendment to the Wisconsin State Constitution that all people, including future generations, have a right to a clean, safe, and healthy environment, ensuring clean water, air, soil, and a stable climate.

Clean Energy Plan (approved in 2022)

100% carbon-free electricity by 2050 through investments in renewables and clean infrastructure, job creation, and workforce development and training.

Climate Accountability Act

Legal enforcement to the goals of the Green Amendment.

Climate Corps Program

Establish a state-run program for young adults aged 18–30 to work on climate resilience, natural resource restoration, and green infrastructure projects. This Climate Corps will focus on training, workforce development, and hiring from underserved communities.

Initiatives for sustainable farming practices, increased funding for county conservation staff, and tree planting.

Create a Clean Wisconsin

Expand Conservation Efforts - Increased funding for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, state parks, reforestation, and Indigenous-led land conservation.
Adopt building codes that require higher standards for energy efficiency for new construction and provide funding to retrofit existing buildings to reduce energy use.
Ban Corporate Water & Land Exploitation - End private ownership of public water resources and prevent corporate monopolization of land. Ensure clean, publicly managed water as a human right.
Encourage municipalities across the state to create composting initiatives to divert food waste from landfills.

Combat Climate Change & Pollution

Implement strict emissions regulations, hold polluters accountable, and transition to 100% renewables by setting clear and achievable targets to phase out fossil fuels and convert Wisconsin to a 100% renewable energy future.
Raise the minimum standards for the Wisconsin Renewable Portfolio Standard.
Publicly Owned Energy - Move toward renewable energy production and phase out fossil fuels.
Make renewable technology affordable - Create an EV and renewable energy rebate program.
Invest in publicly owned mass transit (including a high-speed rail network and more passenger rail), bike lanes, and walkable infrastructure.
Inter-Agency Coordination - build multi-sector committees to align climate efforts across state agencies and in collaboration with private sector partners.
Carbon Farming - incentivize farmers and land owners to sequester carbon on their property through green farming practices and proper forest management.
Job training programs through the Department of Workforce Development and UW System for green energy and conservation jobs.

A Right to Economic Justice

Tax Fairness

Restructure Wisconsin’s regressive tax code to a more structurally sound tax system that benefits the working class.
Close corporate tax loopholes and ensure billionaires and corporations pay their fair share for out of state entities seeking access to Wisconsin’s economy as well as local entities.
Direct the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to file as well as collect Wisconsin state taxes on behalf of Wisconsinites.
Ensure more financial autonomy for local governments by permitting local income tax rates and localized minimum wage increases.

Worker Economic Rights

Remote Work - Require businesses to provide evidence-based reasoning for requiring employees to work from a specific location.
Abolish Unpaid Internships – Ensure all labor, including internships, are paid.
Development of the Wisconsinite Bank, a no fee basic banking public option financial infrastructure.

Public Infrastructure

Infrastructure & Public Transit Investment.
Increase jobs through new infrastructure projects in roads, bridges, broadband, and transit projects.
Expand fare-free public transit and high-speed rail infrastructure.
Rural & Small-Town Economic Revitalization – Bring good jobs and infrastructure to underserved communities.

Ban Forced Labor of All Kinds

End exploitative prison labor, grant incarcerated workers full labor rights, ending all forms of slavery.

Wage Support & Bridge Programs

Provide paid retraining programs for workers learning new skills in industries that support Wisconsin's future economy.
Incentivize employers to offer new skills development programs and internal transfers.

Expand Retraining & Education

Fully fund state retraining programs, including tuition-free certificates and degrees at community colleges.
Provide transitional stipends so workers for living expenses while retraining.

Community & Regional Investment

Establish state grants for regions with sudden job losses tied to offshoring or automation.
Support local partnerships between labor unions, community colleges, and small businesses.

Accountability & Enforcement

Require businesses to give employees at minimum a 2 weeks notice prior to termination for job consolidation or non-destructive firing.
Impose penalties on companies that fail to comply with layoff notifications.
Publicly track and report corporate compliance with retraining and local hiring efforts.

A Right to Social Justice

Universal Right to Bodily Autonomy

The Wisconsin Labor Party recognizes the real and immediate threat and curtailment to women’s rights to Equality and Full Participation and stands in full opposition to this regression.
Remove the 1849 Abortion Ban (Wis. Stat. § 940.04) removing criminal penalties for abortion and enshrining constitutional protections for reproductive freedom, including access to contraception and abortion care across Wisconsin.
Ban discrimination in housing, healthcare, employment, and education based on sex, pregnancy, and parental status.
Expand access to maternal healthcare, including prenatal and postnatal care, and ensure full medical coverage for women’s health needs as a pillar of the BadgerCare Program.
Eliminate wage gaps, workplace discrimination, and gender-based violence from society.
Ensure every individual has complete control over their own body, free from government interference, coercion, or discrimination. including reproductive rights, gender-affirming care, medical decision-making, and the right to refuse medical procedures.
Reproductive Freedom – Guarantee access to abortion, contraception, and fertility treatments without restrictions or political interference.
Right to Refuse Forced Medical Procedures – Ban involuntary sterilizations, forced interventions, and non-consensual experimentation on incarcerated or institutionalized individuals.

Repeal and Amend the Criminal Statutes for Consenting Sex Workers

Wis. Stat. § 944.30 — Prostitution

Repeal criminal penalties for consensual adult exchange of sexual services.
Retain prohibitions on coercion, force, fraud, and exploitation.

Wis. Stat. § 944.31 — Patronizing Prostitutes

Remove criminal penalties for consensual adult transactions.
Maintain penalties for conduct involving coercion, minors, or trafficking.

Wis. Stat. § 944.34 — Soliciting Prostitutes

Repeal criminal penalties for consensual adult solicitation.
Preserve enforcement authority against solicitation involving minors, coercion, or trafficking.

Labor, Health, and Safety Protections

Ensure sex workers are protected by workplace health and safety laws, including the right to report violence, abuse, or unsafe conditions without fear of arrest.
Allow sex workers access to labor protections, civil remedies, and contract enforcement where applicable.
Ensure access to healthcare, harm-reduction services, and public health resources without criminal penalty or surveillance.

Anti-Discrimination and Non-Retaliation Protections

Prohibit discrimination against sex workers in housing, healthcare, banking, and access to public services.
Protect sex workers from retaliation or coercion by landlords, employers, law enforcement, or third parties.
Ensure prior convictions related to consensual adult sex work are eligible for expungement.

Focused Enforcement Against Exploitation and Trafficking

Maintain and strengthen criminal penalties for human trafficking, sexual exploitation, abuse, and crimes involving minors.
Redirect law enforcement resources toward investigating coercion, violence, trafficking networks, and exploitation rather than consensual activity.
Fund survivor-centered services, including housing, healthcare, legal aid, and voluntary exit programs.
New penalties for sex related crimes to bring this class of crimes to an equal level to murder.

Lawful Implementation and Oversight

Implement decriminalization through legislation and administrative reform consistent with constitutional limits and state authority.
Engage public health experts, labor advocates, sex worker–led organizations, and survivor groups in policy development and oversight.

Racial Justice, Equal Protection, and Freedom from State Violence

Equal Protection and Anti-Discrimination

Prohibit racial profiling and discriminatory enforcement by law enforcement, prosecutors, and state agencies.
Require transparency and public reporting on race-based disparities in arrests, charging decisions, sentencing, incarceration, and use of force.

Police Accountability and Protection from Brutality

Establish clear limits on use of force and prohibit practices that result in excessive or unnecessary deadly force.
Require independent investigation and prosecution of police misconduct, brutality, and deaths in custody.
End qualified immunity at the state level and ensure civil remedies for victims of police violence.
Prohibit the use of military-grade equipment and surveillance tools by police to target communities.
Establish independent civilian oversight bodies with subpoena power for law enforcement agencies.

Community Safety and Reparative Justice

Crime reduction centered social policy investing public resources toward housing, healthcare, education, mental health services, and violence prevention programs.
Invest in community-based safety models led by impacted communities.

Incarceration Reform and Decarceration

Payback Time: Reserve incarceration for crimes where victims cannot be made whole and move Wisconsin to a restorative justice model focused on restoring victims back to their previous condition as is best possible.
End the use of solitary confinement.
Prohibit incarceration for inability to pay fines, fees, or court costs.
Expand earned release, parole eligibility, and sentence modification pathways tied to rehabilitation, education, and good conduct.
Ensure access to housing, employment, education, healthcare, and voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals, and prohibit discrimination based on criminal history unrelated to job or housing safety.

Post-Incarceration Rehabilitation

The Wisconsin Labor Party supports a comprehensive, rights-based post-incarceration rehabilitation framework designed to break the cycle of recidivism, ensure economic stability, focus on restorative justice and protect public safety. This policy establishes structured, well-funded reintegration programs that remove barriers to employment, housing, healthcare, and civic participation, recognizing that successful reentry into society is critical for long-term justice reform.

Employment & Workforce Development

Ban Discriminatory Hiring Practices - Expand “Ban the Box” laws statewide to prohibit employers from inquiring about past convictions on job applications, ensuring fair hiring opportunities.‍
Termination Justification - Employers that hire individuals without prior knowledge of their criminal history must provide clear, documented justification for termination if a background check is conducted after employment has begun. Terminations based solely on past convictions rather than job performance or work
Guaranteed Workforce Development - Provide state funding for vocational training, apprenticeships, and job placement programs for formerly incarcerated individuals.‍
Employer Incentives for Second-Chance Hiring - Establish tax credits and wage subsidies for businesses that hire returning citizens.‍
Entrepreneurship & Small Business Support - Offer microloans, business grants, and mentorship programs for formerly incarcerated individuals seeking self-employment.

Exceptions will apply in specific industries where public safety, fiduciary responsibility, or legal compliance necessitate stricter regulations, including but not limited to:

‍- Childcare & Education – Positions involving direct supervision of minors.‍

Senior & Disability Care – Roles requiring direct care for vulnerable populations.‍
Banking & Financial Services – Jobs involving fiduciary trust and sensitive financial data.‍
Other Heavily Regulated Fields – Professions where federal or state regulations impose background check requirements.
Employers in regulated industries must follow due process standards, including notifying the employee, allowing a response, and considering rehabilitation efforts before making termination decisions.

Stable Housing & Tenant Protections

-‍ Transitional Housing Assistance – Fund publicly managed transitional housing programs for individuals immediately upon release.‍

Anti-Discrimination Protections in Housing – Prohibit landlords from rejecting applicants based on criminal history alone.‍
Cooperative & Public Housing Access – Expand public and cooperative housing initiatives to include designated units for returning citizens

Education & Skill Development

-‍ Tuition-Free Access to Higher Education & Vocational Training – Guarantee access to community college, technical certifications, and workforce credentialing programs.‍

Digital & Technological Training – Provide coding boot camps, IT training, and workforce-readiness courses to ensure digital literacy.

Mental Health & Substance Use Support

Expand Access to Mental Health & Addiction Treatment – Ensure individuals have immediate access to counseling, peer support programs, and long-term mental health care.‍
Mandatory Pre-Release & Post-Release Support Plans – Require correctional facilities to develop individualized transition plans that address healthcare, employment, and social reintegration.

Legal & Financial Assistance

Expungement & Record-Sealing Services – When applicable, provide government-funded legal aid to assist with record expungement to remove employment and housing barriers.‍
Debt Relief & Financial Education – Offer financial counseling to address outstanding court fees, child support obligations, and reentry-related economic challenges.

Community & Civic Reintegration

‍- Restoration of Voting Rights – Automatically restore voting rights to individuals upon release from incarceration.‍

Family Reunification & Social Support – Fund programs that assist returning citizens in reconnecting with family and community networks.‍
Local Reentry Support Centers – Establish community-based resource hubs to provide returning citizens with navigation support for jobs, healthcare, and legal aid.

Restorative Justice & Alternatives to Reincarceration

‍- Expansion of Restorative Justice Programs – Develop alternatives to incarceration that focus on rehabilitation and reconciliation.‍

Parole & Probation Reform – End punitive parole conditions that set individuals up for failure, replacing them with rehabilitative support systems‍
Abolish For-Profit Reentry Services – Ban exploitative parole fees and prohibit private companies from profiting off probation services.

Implementation & Oversight

State Reentry Program Office – Establish a dedicated agency within the Department of Labor to oversee and fund rehabilitation initiatives.‍
Local Partnerships – Provide grants to local governments and community organizations to implement evidence-based reentry programs.‍
Mandatory Data Collection & Impact Reporting – Require transparent reporting on program outcomes, employment rates, and recidivism reduction.

LGBTQIA+ Rights to Marry and Exist Freely

The Labor Party protects LGBTQIA+ rights and will:

Strengthen the right to same-sex marriage by eliminating outdated “zombie laws.”
Outlaw discrimination in housing, healthcare, and employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Ensure access to gender-affirming healthcare.
Eliminate bans on trans people in all aspects of public life, securing full inclusion under the law.
Gender & LGBTQIA+ Rights – Defend the right to gender-affirming healthcare and self-identification.
Implement and enforce a statewide ban on the use of conversion therapy.

Tribal Sovereignty and Redress

Establish a Native Redress Commission to meet with Tribal leaders and discuss programs for the betterment, improved sovereignty and respect.

Religious Freedom and Secular Government

Protect the free exercise of religion and ensure no religious doctrine is imposed through law or public policy.
Prohibit denial of healthcare, civil rights, or public services based on religious belief.
Ensure public institutions remain secular and inclusive.

Anti-Genocide and Atrocity Prevention

The Wisconsin Labor Party affirms that genocide, ethnic cleanising, and crimes against humanity - whether committed by state or non-state actors - are among the gravest violations of human dignity. The Wisconsin Labor Party will oppose tranquil operation of business, agency federal or state or other organization which aids those at home and abroad who support or commit this egregious act.

Immigrant Rights and Protections

Non-Discrimination and Equal Access

Prohibit discrimination based on actual or perceived immigration status in employment, housing, education, healthcare, and access to public services.
Expand state civil rights protections to explicitly include immigration status as a protected category.

Worker and Labor Protections

Ensure all workers, regardless of immigration status, can report wage theft, labor violations, and unsafe working conditions without fear of detention, deportation, or retaliation.
Prohibit employers from using immigration status or threats of immigration enforcement as retaliation against workers exercising their rights.

Limits on State and Local Immigration Enforcement

End state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement that undermines due process or public safety.
Prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from acting as immigration agents and resistance/non-complicance with federal civil immigration agencies.
Noncompliance with federal immigration agencies, federal agencies will bear the full cost of enforcing federal law.
Prohibit the use of state and local resources, personnel, or databases for immigration enforcement purposes.

Access to Essential Services

Protect access to driver licenses and state identification for immigrant residents, regardless of status.
Ensure access to K–12 education, higher education opportunities, emergency services, and healthcare without immigration-based discrimination.
Prohibit state agencies and service providers from inquiring into or disclosing immigration status unless required by law.

Data Privacy and Due Process Protections

Protect personal data held by state and local agencies from being used for immigration enforcement absent a judicial warrant.
Ensure due process protections for all residents interacting with state and local government.

Legal Aid and Community Support

Fund state-supported legal aid and community-based organizations providing immigration legal services and family support, particularly for mixed-status households.
Support the creation of a state Office of Immigrant Affairs to coordinate policy, services, and community outreach.

Disability Rights and Accessibility

Prohibit discrimination based on disability in employment, housing, education, healthcare, voting, and access to public services.
Strengthen enforcement of disability access standards in public buildings, transportation, digital services, and polling locations.
Protect disabled individuals from forced institutionalization, involuntary guardianship abuse, and non-consensual medical interventions.
Ensure access to community-based services, independent living supports, and healthcare that respects autonomy and informed consent.
Guarantee that disability status is not used to deny bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, or decision-making authority.

Surveillance, Privacy, and Civil Liberties

Limits on Surveillance and Data Collection

Pursue legislation prohibiting warrantless mass surveillance by state and local agencies and require a judicial warrant based on probable cause for access to personal data, digital communications, location information, or biometric identifiers.
Prohibit the use of facial recognition, predictive policing, biometric surveillance, and similar technologies by state and local law enforcement and reduce surveillance authorized by legislation, require strict oversight and public transparency in minimal surveillance allowed.

Protection of Sensitive Personal and Healthcare Data

Prohibit the collection, retention, or sharing of data related to reproductive healthcare, gender-affirming care, immigration status, sexual orientation, or gender identity for law enforcement or surveillance purposes.
Bar state and local agencies from sharing personal data with federal authorities, including immigration enforcement, without a valid judicial warrant.

Worker and Workplace Surveillance Protections

Restrict intrusive electronic surveillance of workers—including communications monitoring, location tracking, biometric data collection, and AI-driven productivity monitoring—by requiring clear justification, transparency, and meaningful worker consent.
Protect workers from surveillance-based retaliation related to organizing, political activity, or whistleblowing conducted off the clock or on personal devices.

Limits on Private Contractors and Data Vendors

Prohibit state contracts with private vendors that monetize, misuse, or unlawfully share personal or biometric data.
Require audits, disclosure, and accountability for any contractor handling sensitive personal information on behalf of the state.

Oversight, Accountability, and Remedies

Establish public reporting requirements for surveillance technologies used by state and local agencies.
Provide civil remedies for individuals harmed by unlawful surveillance or data misuse.

Legalize Cannabis and Expunge Records

Fully decriminalize and reinvest tax revenue into communities.
Expunge records for nonviolent drug offenders.

A Right to Education

Reform Public Education Funding

Modernize public school budgeting to track inflation and reflect student needs.
Ban public funding for voucher schools and phase out voucher schools.
Increase special education reimbursement rate.
Increase general aid funding for public schools.
Improve teachers representation in curriculum development.

Improve Educator Retention and Recruitment

Create a state-wide “grow-your-own” program utilizing paid residencies, tuition support tied to service commitments, and paraprofessional-to-teacher pathways.
Utilize smart licensure reciprocity for educators to reduce barriers for experienced teachers moving in.
Recognize that time as a resource by funding substitute pools, mentoring loads, and protected collaboration time.

Universal Childcare and Pre-K

‍- Provide free, high-quality early education and childcare.

Transparent & Equitable Admission Practices: Public-choice programs (including magnet and public charter schools) must use transparent, equitable enrollment processes and uphold all civil rights protections, especially for students receiving special education services or English language support.

Invest in Training & Resources

Professional Development: Provide ongoing, fully funded professional development for general and special educators, ensuring they have evidence-based training in inclusive teaching, behavior support, and assistive technology.
Reduction of Class Sizes & increased Support Staff: Encourage smaller class sizes, add paraprofessionals and counselors, and expand the availability of speech, occupational, and mental health services for all students.
Family & Community Engagement: Ensure parents and guardians have a voice in shaping the programs their children receive.

Create Trust in Public Schools

Ensure transparency in reporting by all schools that receive public funding.
Expand school-based mental health, social work, and family engagement coordinators.