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One to Keep An Eye On: Amendment 1 (Tennessee)


As with many labor & employment law cases (and bills) being litigated around the country, there are always a few that stand out.  This is one to keep an eye on.


This November, November 8th to be exact, voters in Tennessee will have the opportunity to enshrine the state’s right to work law into the Tennessee Constitution.

Tennessee already has a right to work law in place that allows employees to opt out of joining a union and prohibits union membership as a condition of employment.  Readers might be wondering if there is already a right to work law in place, why bother with an amendment to the Tennessee Constitution?  Well, quite simply, enshrining the right to work law in the state’s Constitution better “insulates” it from being repealed by the State Legislature at a later point (say if Democrats were to muster enough votes to repeal the state’s right to work law.)

By amending the Tennessee Constitution to include the state’s right to work law, proponents of the measure are taking the additional step to ensure it is not so easily repealed down the road.  Will voters in Tennessee approve Amendment 1?  I think it might be close, but if I were to hazard a guess, I think this just might make it across the finish line.


For additional information:  https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2022/09/26/tennessee-amendment-1-unions-would-add-right-to-work-to-the-constitution/69496569007/


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