Member-only story
Lee’s Lousy Week
Losses for TN Gov are wins for workers, schools
As the 2024 session of the Tennessee General Assembly comes to a close, Gov. Bill Lee is facing a pair of devastating losses.
First, Lee’s signature legislative initiative, school vouchers, will not advance this year. Lee’s advocacy for universal school vouchers dates back to well before he was a candidate for Governor.
The plan would have cost $144 million this year and would have meant universal access to vouchers by the 2025–26 school year.
Now, Lee will have to wait until next year to push again for a school voucher scheme.
Outside the legislature, Lee also lost in his attempt to trample workers.
Lee was outspoken in opposition to the UAW organizing a union at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga.
Despite previous setbacks in attempts to organize at VW, this time, the UAW was successful.
73% of workers at the Chattanooga plant voted in favor of the union.
In a massive union win in the US South, workers at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have overwhelmingly voted to join the United Auto Workers (UAW). The victory is a significant milestone, as it was the last VW operation worldwide without a union.
