U.S. Xpress CEO Eric FullerChattanooga has always had a proud heritage. But in the last 20 years, Chattanooga has become a city celebrated nationwide. This renaissance has been built on a business and start-up culture that has thrived with strong businesses leading the charge. There are many businesses in this city that have excelled and grown through the culture of hard work, pride in job and community, and strong leadership.
When outside companies look to Chattanooga for expansion or to build a plant or distribution center, it’s that culture they are looking to attract. And that culture also attracts people here from all walks of life to work and raise their families.
Growing a thriving city is much like growing a business; it’s not always linear. There occasionally can be setbacks or threats to the positive growth. As a business community, we are at such a moment. Similar to the risk in 2014, Chattanooga is again threatened by the possibility of a large union gaining a foothold in our community. Some may ask why should we care? Some may say this isn’t a concern for U.S. Xpress or any another company in the community other than Volkswagen.
But this is a community issue. A union like the UAW can tear apart the fabric of our community and greatly stunt our growth. Look to the decimated cities of the Midwest such as Cleveland and Detroit, two cities that were once booming but left in tatters by strong union representation that eventually destroyed the plants and companies in which they were involved.
Many will ask why should a union in a large company or plant be considered as negative? Aren’t they just representing the rights of the workers? I will admit that in the complicated history of the United States there was once a time where unions were necessary, and they improved working conditions across multiple industries. However, since those times, we have had broad, sweeping government regulations across all industries that are focused on working conditions, wages, hours and worker safety.