TTU Professor Says Increase Of Unions Will Impact UC Workforce

Tennessee Tech Business Professor Tom Timmerman attributes the rise of unions to new companies moving to the state.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Tennessee labor unions over the past two years have grown at the fastest rate of any state. Timmerman said while the Upper Cumberland has a small union base, he believes it will still impact the workforce.

“I think it is still important, because every non-union company is still competing with unionized companies for wages and benefits,” Timmerman said. “I don’t know of any specific increases in the Upper Cumberland, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it follow the state trend.”

Timmerman said industries such as Ford and Volkswagen have recently established locations within the state. Timmerman said unions have grown outside of traditional industries as well. For example, Timmerman said a Starbacks in Knoxville voted to unionize.

Timmerman said he credits the pandemic as another reason. Timmerman said workers felt like they had more power seeing companies struggle to find employees.