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Nearly 20 legislators from six states gathered in Nashville, Tennessee, for an educational summit hosted in October by the Mackinac Center’s Workers for Opportunity initiative. The summit aimed to educate lawmakers about the landmark 2018 Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME and about the reforms promoted by Workers for Opportunity in the years since.
Joining us at the summit was Mark Janus himself, who spoke to attendees about the importance of allowing workers to decide whether they want to pay money to a union. He also told lawmakers of his experience trying to leave the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees before the court decision.
Other notable speakers were Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton and Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, who discussed their state’s labor reform. Last year, Tennessee became the latest state to enshrine right-to-work in its constitution, an effort advanced by Speaker Sexton and applauded by Workers for Opportunity.
Workers for Opportunity was also pleased to present several key lawmakers with the Defending the American Worker Award, which honors legislators who have paved the way for significant labor reforms.
Workers for Opportunity announced a new award to recognize legislative staff, The Michael Maren Perseverance Award. The award is named after Michael Maren, a research analyst for the Tennessee General Assembly who died in September. It honors staffers who have made significant contributions to worker freedom from behind the scenes. The 2023 Michael Maren Perseverance Award went to Luke Gustafson, chief of staff for Majority Leader Jack Johnson.
