Posts tagged economic development
Op-ed– MY TURN: Washington’s one-size labor law doesn’t fit Alaska
July 9, 2026 // Forced arbitration doesn’t resolve disputes. It delays them and adds uncertainty to project timelines that are already difficult to manage. For the major energy and infrastructure projects Alaska is now positioned to advance, that uncertainty isn’t just an inconvenience. It could be catastrophic. America needs bold steps toward a more robust energy future, and shortsighted federal mandates stand in the way of that.
Unions in uproar over Gov’s plans to tap pension fund for economic development grants
June 15, 2026 // The Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research is echoing the same call, saying the governor should not be directing money from the state’s pension fund towards “preferred companies.” “The state’s pension fund is not an economic development program. The state owes taxpayers and retirees the best risk-adjusted returns possible,” Pioneer Institute COO Mary Connaughton told the Herald. “It should invest its pension assets based on sound financial judgment, not direct them toward preferred companies or limit investments by geography.”
Nashville council members, baristas press Starbucks on union contract
May 22, 2026 // "Starbucks is actively engaging with the union in good faith and put forward comprehensive proposals that build on Starbucks’ already competitive pay and industry-leading benefits, which includes baristas earning more than $30 an hour on average in pay and benefits, a new performance incentive of up to $1,200 per year and expanded tipping opportunities," Anderson said. The company has said it intends to bring 2,000 jobs to its Nashville office, set to take up an entire six-story building at Peabody Union just south of Ascend Amphitheater in downtown Nashville, in the next five years. Outside the courthouse, the group spoke of a growing union movement among local employees and urged the company to make good on its hiring promise. Just last week, workers at a Starbucks location in North Nashville voted to unionize.
Op-ed: When taxpayers incentivize jobs, the state should protect workers’ privacy in union votes
February 26, 2026 // Now, Rankin County Republican State Sen. Josh Harkins, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, has introduced legislation to protect the investments of state and local taxpayers in economic development projects that rely on taxpayer incentives. The bill ensures that Mississippi workers are entitled to a private ballot for any unionization vote. In a recent op-ed, Harkins explained: “Senate Bill 2202 is straightforward: for companies that choose to accept future state economic development incentives, any decision about union representation should be made through a private, secret-ballot election. The bill does not prohibit employees from organizing. It does not outlaw unions. It does not interfere with an employee’s right to choose union representation if a majority wants it. It simply sets an expectation that the decision is made in a way that protects (worker) privacy.”
Op-ed: Tennessee: The nation’s best right-to-work state
May 13, 2025 // Community Benefits Agreements might sound benign, but in reality, they have become a tool for politically motivated groups to extract money and influence on the taxpayers’ dime. These agreements often dilute or divert economic incentives by forcing businesses to commit funds to causes, organizations or hiring mandates or quotas that go beyond their agreed-upon economic obligations. This new law will block special interests from cashing in on taxpayer-funded incentives.
Commentary: The Georgia Model for Putting Workers’ Rights ahead of Union Demands
March 8, 2024 // The United Auto Workers’ endorsement of Joe Biden’s reelection was in large part payback for the president’s efforts to help organize southern automakers. The Biden administration has issued a slew of policies that will enable the UAW to make inroads at factories that have repeatedly rejected union representation. Most notably and recently, in its Cemex decision last August, the National Labor Relations Board made it easier for unions to ignore workplace elections while publicly intimidating workers into supporting unionization. Georgia is going in the opposite direction, putting workers’ rights ahead of union demands. It’s on the verge of enacting a law that would guarantee secret-ballot elections at automakers and parts manufacturers. The Peach State’s pending reform should spread nationwide.
Treplar is Creating 600 New Jobs in Right to Work West Virginia
September 21, 2023 // Treplar is establishing a new location soon in Right to Work Berkeley County, West Virginia. In order to make this possible, the company is investing a total of $50 million toward the project. That’s money that will go toward the economy, but that’s not the best part. They will also create 600 new jobs!
Right to Work Michigan Businesses are Expanding
April 18, 2022 // Michigan’s Right to Work laws ensure that companies and workers don’t have to be beholden to a union. That fact alone is a major reason why companies choose to invest in Right to Work states. Two of the most recent Kentucky business investments are coming from West Michigan Tool & Die and Duncan Aviation. Both of these companies will both be expanding soon.
What Do Lowe’s and Mercana Have in Common?
February 26, 2022 // Lowe’s and Mercana are both adding new locations soon in Right to Work Virginia! Lowes is adding a new distribution center in Roanoke County. Meanwhile, Mercana is adding a new location in Newport News! Read on so you can learn more about each investment!