The governors high-profile attempt to head off unionization in their states was spurred by The United Auto Workers (UAW) voting to unionize a Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tennesse later this week.
The UAW is also targeting more than a dozen factories in the south as it attempts to break out of its Midwestern stronghold.
What the Republican governors are trying to do is to preserve their economic models built on relatively low pay and minimal worker voice according to Stephen Silva, a professor at America University.
So far Tennessee Republicans have thwarted two UAW attempts to unionize the VW factory in 2014 and 2019. They've been ramping up their opposition recently with news conferences and public statements.
Like everything these days, the whole issue is a political battle between Democrats and Republicans. In their joint statement the six governors wrote,
"We have serious reservations that the UAW leadership can represent our values. They proudly call themselves democratic socialists and seem more focused on helping President Biden get reelected than on the autoworker jobs being cut at plants they already represent."
The governors of Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas are united in their opposition to the UAW.
Democratic state senators in Tennessee criticized the Republican governors on social media this week.
"Autoworkers in the South are ready to make history this week. #StandUp, Chattanooga!" Sen. London Lamar posted.
To put the six governor's action into prospective Silva, who has closely studied unionization in the South, called their statement "unprecedented and shocking" and it discouraged workers from exercising their legal right to organize.
As it Stands, the wealthy's war against the common man is still very much part of our chaotic society.
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