The Chattanooga Area Central Labor Council Supports Public Education for All

The Chattanooga Area Central Labor Council stands firmly in opposition to HB793/SB836 and any effort that undermines the fundamental right to public education.

The labor movement has always understood that education is not a privilege—it is a cornerstone of freedom. Believe it or not, there was a time, not long ago, when it was debated whether working people have the right to be educated at all. Unfortunately in 2026 It's clear that some people in power today are either indifferent to or enthusiastic about a return to those times.

For generations, working people have fought to expand access to public education because we know it is one of the most powerful vehicles for uplift, dignity, and self-determination. When working families gain access to education, entire communities are strengthened, and democracy itself becomes more meaningful.

We believe that every child, regardless of where they were born or the circumstances of their family, deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and reach their full potential. Public education belongs to all of us. It is a shared good that reflects our highest values: fairness, opportunity, and collective investment in the future. Values that every working Chattanoogan believes in.

Legislation like HB793/SB836 moves us in the wrong direction. It threatens to divide working people, impose costly and unfunded mandates on already strained public institutions, and erode the trust that families place in schools and public services. At a time when Tennessee families are struggling with rising costs and underfunded schools, these bills distract from the real issues facing working people.

We reject attempts to pit neighbors against one another. Working people in Chattanooga, regardless of our identities, share common interests. We all want strong schools, good jobs, affordable healthcare, and safe communities. Dividing us only serves those who benefit from keeping working families from demanding more.

As a labor council, we stand in solidarity with educators, students, and families across Tennessee. We call on our elected officials to reject HB793/SB836 and instead invest in the resources our schools and communities truly need.

Education has always been a pathway to freedom. We will continue to fight to ensure that pathway remains open to all."