WISCONSIN — Congressional candidate Peter Burgelis today highlighted his record of standing with organized labor, supporting collective bargaining rights, and delivering results for union workers and working families throughout his service on the Milwaukee County Board and Milwaukee Common Council.

“As the son and grandson of immigrants who fought for every opportunity they earned, I understand the dignity that comes from a good-paying union job,” said Burgelis. “Throughout my time in public office, I’ve stood with workers because strong unions create stronger communities, safer workplaces, and a stronger middle class.”

Standing Up for Collective Bargaining Rights

Burgelis supported Milwaukee County’s efforts calling for the repeal of Wisconsin’s Act 10 and the restoration of collective bargaining rights for public employees.

Act 10 stripped teachers, nurses, transit workers, public safety professionals, and countless other public servants of rights they had exercised for generations. Burgelis stood with organized labor in supporting efforts to restore those rights and reaffirm the principle that workers deserve a meaningful voice in the workplace.

“Collective bargaining is a fundamental workplace right,” Burgelis said. “Workers deserve the freedom to organize, negotiate fair wages and benefits, and advocate for safe working conditions without political interference.”

Leading the Fight for Union-Made Procurement

One of Burgelis’s signature labor accomplishments came as a Milwaukee County Supervisor when he supported Milwaukee County’s landmark United Auto Workers Fleet Purchasing Preference Policy (County File 23-819).

The legislation established a preference for purchasing vehicles from manufacturers employing members of the United Auto Workers, ensuring taxpayer dollars support employers that respect collective bargaining and provide family-supporting union jobs.

The policy positioned Milwaukee County as a leader in using public purchasing power to support organized labor and American manufacturing.

“Public dollars should support good-paying union jobs,” Burgelis said. “When taxpayers invest in public services, those investments should help sustain the workers and communities that make those services possible.”

Supporting Transit Workers and Public Employees

Burgelis supported funding for an onsite healthcare clinic serving Milwaukee County Transit System employees and their families, improving access to care for frontline transit workers. (County File 22-1178 / HRA22-324)

He also supported Wisconsin’s shared revenue agreement, helping preserve critical county services and protecting the public-sector workforce responsible for delivering those services. (County File 23-481)

Investing in the Public Workforce

As a member of the Milwaukee Common Council, Burgelis has consistently supported efforts to recruit, retain, and fairly compensate municipal employees. His record includes support for:

• Employee compensation and benefit improvements for City employees. (City Files 251524, 241152, 250291)

• Increasing the City employee residency incentive from 3% to 4% to encourage workforce retention and homeownership in Milwaukee.

• The Employee Down Payment Assistance Program study to help City workers achieve homeownership and build wealth. (City File 251449)

• Recruitment and retention initiatives for police officers, firefighters, and other public employees. (City Files 241479, 241227, 251454)

• Efforts to address workforce shortages, employee burnout, and chronic vacancies throughout City government. (City Files 260173, 251435, 260182)

Creating Union Jobs Through Infrastructure Investment

Burgelis has also been a leading advocate for infrastructure investments that create family-supporting union construction jobs.

As the author of the successful 2025 budget amendment restoring local road funding, Burgelis helped secure an additional $4 million for Milwaukee’s High Impact Paving Program. The amendment restored local road funding to prior-year levels and supported hundreds of construction and skilled-trades jobs while addressing Milwaukee’s growing infrastructure backlog. (2025 Budget Amendment 40B)

The amendment also directed City officials to develop a long-term strategy to address Milwaukee’s deteriorating road network and maintain critical infrastructure investments for years to come.

“Whether it’s operating heavy equipment, pouring concrete, driving buses, teaching children, responding to emergencies, or manufacturing vehicles, working people keep our communities running,” Burgelis said. “Government should be a partner in creating good jobs and supporting workers, not driving down wages and benefits.”

A Record of Delivering for Labor

Throughout his time in public office, Burgelis has consistently voted to strengthen workers’ rights, support public employees, invest in infrastructure, and ensure taxpayer dollars support employers who respect collective bargaining.

As a candidate for Congress, Burgelis has pledged to continue fighting for workers by protecting collective bargaining rights, strengthening apprenticeship programs, supporting project labor agreements, investing in infrastructure, defending prevailing wage laws, and ensuring workers have a seat at the table in Washington.

“Organized labor built America’s middle class,” Burgelis said. “I’ll continue fighting to make sure the next generation of workers can earn a good living, support a family, retire with dignity, and pass along greater opportunity than they inherited.”

Key Labor and Workforce Record

• Support for Repeal of Act 10 and Restoration of Collective Bargaining Rights

• UAW Fleet Purchasing Preference Policy- Milwaukee County File 23-819

• MCTS Employee Health Clinic Funding- Milwaukee County File 22-1178 / HRA22-324

• Shared Revenue Support to Preserve County Services and Public Sector Jobs- Milwaukee County File 23-481

• Employee Down Payment Assistance Study- City File 251449

• Employee Compensation and Benefit Improvements-  City Files 251524, 241152, 250291

• General City Employee Wage Increase and Increased Employee Residency Incentive for City Workers 2026 Budget Amendment 1J Omnibus

• Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Investments- City Files 241479, 241227, 251454

• Workforce Retention and Vacancy Oversight- City Files 260173, 251435, 260182

• High Impact Streets Funding Restoration Supporting Union Construction Jobs- 2025 Budget Amendment 40B