NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — While Republican Gov. Bill Haslam often states his goal of bringing "high-quality jobs" to Tennessee, a document produced by his administration suggests he may be less interested in making them high-paying positions.
The Commercial Appeal newspaper reports that the Haslam administration is touting the state internationally as a place with a "low-cost labor force" and "very low unionization rates."
That description is part of a request for information posted on the state's website on Monday for people and firms in Europe, Asia and South America interested in representing Tennessee's economic development goals with foreign companies.
Haslam has been a vocal critic of the United Auto Workers' efforts to gain collective bargaining rights at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, arguing that it would hurt efforts to lure foreign companies to Tennessee.