Memphis Democratic Officials Slam “Right To Work” Amendment

By Dulce Torres Guzman, Tennessee Lookout

November 1, 2022

Memphis Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy held a press conference Tuesday addressing the proposed Constitutional Amendment 1, which seeks to strengthen the state’s current “right to work” laws.

The amendment would allow voters to decide whether they support language stating it is illegal to deny employment to a person based on membership in a union or refusal to join a union.

But the group of elected officials said the amendment is an attempt to distract voters from real issues currently affecting their livelihoods, such as inflation and gas prices.

“We are being distracted. We’re weakening unions, which weakens our labor force, which puts people under even more strain when it comes to negotiation when it comes to getting a livable wage to take care of themselves and their families,” said Harris.

Harris added that the amendment would also weaken the ability of Ford Motor Company to attract qualified workers for its Blue Oval City, which is set to bring 5,800 jobs to West Tennessee.

The obvious point here is to destroy unions even more than the statutory so-called ‘right to work,’ which is clearly misleading.

– Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy

“It would mean that (Ford) would have to, on their own time, invest their own (money) representing individuals who are not paying dues,” he said.

“What kind of sustainable structure if labor organizations are forced against their will to represent individuals who don’t pay the dues or the cost of that representation?” asked Harris.

Memphis Democrats also criticized Republicans who support the proposed legislation, singling out Gov. Bill Lee for saying Tennesseans will be forced “to bend the knee to union bosses” in a statement last week.

“The obvious point here is to destroy unions even more than the statutory so-called ‘right to work,’ which is clearly misleading, legislation already does,” said Mulroy.

“The only reason we have Amendment 1 on the ballot is because of a legislator who is pleading guilty to a federal felony who put something unnecessary on the ballot,” said Cohen, referring to the amendment’s sponsor, Sen. Brian Kelsey.

Last week, attorneys for Kelsey filed documents to change his plea from ‘not guilty’ to ‘guilty’ in a case alleging federal campaign finance violations.

Now more than ever, tough and fair journalism is important. The Tennessee Lookout is your watchdog, telling the stories of politics and policy that affect the people of the Volunteer State.