MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Labor unions have a rich history in the state of Wisconsin, but lately participation in labor unions has been down. That’s why folks at the Milwaukee Labor Day Parade, which takes place annually, hope whoever the next governor is will help strengthen labor union participation.

“Labor unions, we don’t care just about our members, we care about all working people because we understand that we are one of the few resources that are challenging corporations,” Louis Davis, the executive director of SEIU Wisconsin, said.

SEIU represents 7,000 workers across the state of Wisconsin, mostly those in the healthcare sector. They say since recent legislation like Act 10 and Wisconsin’s Right to Work law were passed, it's harmed unions. Democratic candidate for governor David Crowley agrees. Which is why he plans to repeal both of those laws if elected governor. 

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“Every single worker should have the right to sit at the collective bargaining table and negotiate for fair wages,” Crowley said. “It’s not going to take just me becoming governor, we need to take back the Senate, take back the Assembly, so we can make sure we can repeal Act 10 and repeal Right to Work for less.”

His Republican opponent, Tom Tiffany, who spent part of his Labor Day in Franklin, disagrees. He voted for the “Right to Work law” when he was serving at the state Capitol.

“If they want to belong to a union, they should. If they don’t want to, they should have that same choice,” Tiffany said. But when I talk to rank-and-file labor members that are up there, I hear from so many they are voting for me.”

Tiffany says he will bring back manufacturing jobs that are high paying, and he will do so partially by deregulating permitting.

“Sometimes it’s two, three, four years in order to get permits. Let’s make sure that that permitting process is done more expeditiously. We don’t have to compromise environmental standards or safety standards but let's do it much more expeditiously,” Tiffany said.

While Crowley plans on bringing more jobs, he wants them to pay well, which is what he says he will do by raising the minimum wage. 

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“We have to make sure that we bring prevailing wages back to the state of Wisconsin, we have community benefit agreements and that there is no more worker misclassification, and more importantly, that we raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour so people can see a future here in the state of Wisconsin,” Crowley said.

A sentiment Tiffany believes isn’t necessary.

“I think it’s a false choice that’s put forward to people. I mean, employers I talk to, I don’t know anybody that pays 7.25 an hour. I mean, it just doesn’t happen at this point, and so we shouldn’t set a ceiling like David Crowley is talking about, let’s have a goal of paying $20 an hour. I want people to make much more than $20 an hour,” Tiffany said.

According to a report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum, Wisconsin has a high rate of brain drain. Meaning, people with higher levels of degrees or qualifications are leaving the state at a high rate. An issue both candidates say their policies will best tackle if elected.