Wisconsin Building Trades Council

06/25/2026

Union Contractors Put Safety First

Proper personal protective equipment is not a perk. It is a necessity.

95% of union contractors provide individualized PPE, which is 20% more than non-union contractors.

When workers have the right equipment for the job, worksites are safer, injuries are reduced, and workers know their employer is committed to getting them home safely.

06/19/2026

Today on Juneteenth, we honor the resilience of those who came before us and recommit to building a more just and equitable future, on the jobsite and in our communities.

Freedom, dignity, and opportunity for all are at the heart of the labor movement, so today we recommit ourselves to the work of equity, equality, and justice in Wisconsin and beyond.

06/19/2026

In Episode 4 of Trade Talk Wisconsin, we sit down with Mike Killian, Business Manager of IBEW Local 159, to talk about the electrical trade, Madison’s growing construction market, and what it takes to train the next generation of electricians.

From homes, hospitals, and schools to data centers, EV infrastructure, and smart building systems, electricians power the projects and technology Wisconsin depends on every day.

After our conversation with Mike, stick around for a special conversation with Mikey Richards, Matt Raasch, and Jon Bothun about LEAN, Laborers Escaping Adversity Now, a peer support program helping Wisconsin laborers and their families navigate mental health challenges, substance use, and difficult moments.

In Episode 4 of Trade Talk Wisconsin, we sit down with Mike Killian...

06/17/2026

Applications at Madison’s IBEW Local 159 have doubled over the last five years, reflecting a growing shift among students and young workers who are looking for hands-on training, strong wages, benefits, and a future they can build on. Additionally, the typical union journeyworker in Wisconsin earns 24% more than a Bachelor's degree holder and 5% more than a Master's degree holder.

Wisconsin’s union building trades are training the next generation of skilled workers who will build our communities for decades to come.

Trade apprenticeship applications double at Madison’s IBEW Local 159

STORY https://www.wmtv15news.com/2026/06/16/trade-apprenticeship-applications-double-madisons-ibew-local-159/

06/12/2026

Wisconsin workers are building Wisconsin’s clean energy future.

WBTC Executive Director Emily Pritzkow speaks on how union building trades are helping drive clean energy growth across the state.

From renewable energy projects to grid modernization, these investments create family-supporting union jobs and keep the economic impact in local communities.

As union groups in Wisconsin get more involved in clean-energy projects across the state, leaders say the proliferation of data centers could create another opportunity for growth.

06/12/2026

Safety Isn’t Just A Slogan

In the union trades, safety is built into the way the work gets done.

Union-led safety programs do more than check boxes. They help prevent injuries, protect workers, and create jobsites where everyone is expected to look out for one another.

Union construction sites experience 34% fewer OSHA violations per inspection than non-union sites.

That is the power of rigorous training, strong accountability, and a commitment to putting workers first.

06/07/2026

Every trade plays a critical role in bringing a project to life, and the finishing trades help make that work shine.

In this clip, Jeff Mehrhoff, Business Manager of IUPAT DC7, explains how drywall finishers and painters come in near the end of a project to help bring everything together.

It is skilled work. It is detailed work. And when it is done right, it helps the entire project look its best.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jYGfGjMNKjQ

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2wFeHAlLNGaEZJkqfHhQRi?si=e0a924e9abbc43ac

Follow Trade Talk Wisconsin: https://open.spotify.com/show/5xaT60pw0Wzbz5rd1ivsQ6?si=bf955c1d83d74e38

06/04/2026

The union trades are not just training workers. They are building a technical education system designed around the people it serves.

In this clip, Jeff Mehrhoff, Business Manager of IUPAT DC7, explains why their training model is built on accessibility, with multiple training centers that bring opportunities closer to members across the region.

That investment sends a clear message: union training is here for the long term, and it is built to meet workers where they are.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jYGfGjMNKjQ

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2wFeHAlLNGaEZJkqfHhQRi?si=e0a924e9abbc43ac

Follow Trade Talk Wisconsin: https://open.spotify.com/show/5xaT60pw0Wzbz5rd1ivsQ6?si=bf955c1d83d74e38

06/03/2026

LGBTQ+ voices belong in the trades.

This Pride Month, WBTC stands in respect and solidarity with LGBTQ+ workers, advocates, and communities across Wisconsin.

The labor movement is strongest when every worker has the dignity, safety, and opportunity they deserve. In the union trades, that means building workplaces where people are respected for who they are, supported by their union, and able to build strong careers.

Pride Month is a reminder that fairness on the job and fairness in our communities go hand in hand.

06/02/2026

Safety First, Always.

June is National Safety Month, and at WBTC, safety is at the center of everything our member unions do.

On every jobsite, union workers are trained to do more than complete the work. They are trained to protect one another, uphold high standards, and make sure every worker goes home safely at the end of the day.

For generations, unions have helped lead the way in building safer, fairer, and more accountable workplaces. Through rigorous training, enforceable standards, and a culture where workers are empowered to speak up, union members set the standard for safety across Wisconsin’s construction industry.

Safety is not just a checklist. It is a lifelong commitment.