The Chattanooga Central Labor Council supports proposed a City Council resolution to establish clear and enforceable guidance for Payment in Lieu of Taxes programs. As public incentives are granted to private businesses, our community must ensure these investments prioritize Chattanooga’s workers and families, not just corporate bottom lines.
This resolution is a step toward accountability, fairness and economic justice. It calls for living wages, and labor protections that prevent companies from undercutting our workforce. We would like to see the following additions included:
The provision in the current draft legislation calling for a minimum of 100 or more permanent jobs should include language specifying that these jobs be accessible to local workers.
As the right to organize is fundamental, and union membership correlates highly with better wages and benefits, the Labor Council would also like to see language requiring any recipient of PILOT incentives to agree to neutrality in union organizing drives among its workers.
Finally, we advocate stronger provisions for ensuring that the jobs created during the construction phase of the project go to local workers. The current draft legislation, while containing many good guidelines, leaves this aspect to supplemental community benefits agreements, which, if they are not negotiated before the PILOT is awarded, are difficult to make truly robust.
“We cannot allow public resources to be used in ways that bypass the very workers and communities that make Chattanooga strong,” said Geoff Meldahl, president of the Chattanooga Area Central Labor Council. “If a company wants public support, it must demonstrate a commitment to hiring local workers, respecting labor rights, and paying fair wages.”
The Chattanooga Central Labor Council urges city leaders to pass this resolution with firm provisions that uphold working people’s rights. When public money is involved, it must serve the public good—not just private profit.
To support inclusion of such provisions in the current resolution under consideration, a small delegation of members of the Chattanooga Area Central Labor Council will be attending the Feb. 11 and 18 city council meetings to share these points with city council. As of today, the vote is scheduled for Feb. 18.
Patrick Cate
Chattanooga Central Labor Council