On Thursday, November 13th, 2025, two 20-plus year employees of McKay’s Knoxville store were wrongfully terminated. Neither employee was given a verbal or written warning. They were both fired and treated like dangerous criminals, physically intimidated, and escorted out of the store. While both were union members, one of these employees, Aaron Hege, is a member of the elected bargaining team and is now the second of the four member team to be fired suddenly and unjustly.

The Communication Workers of America have already added their wrongful termination to the unfair labor practice charges McKay’s will soon be facing in court. However, in the meantime, these two members of our community are in a very vulnerable position. Aaron and Cheralee have chronic health issues, and are now going into the holiday season without their income or insurance. Despite what they are going through, they are still fighting for the union, showing up at meetings and informational pickets. If you live in the Knoxville area, you may have seen them recently, holding signs on Papermill Drive.

Aaron and Cheralee need our support now more than ever in this three year fight. Since the beginning, allies of labor and members of the broader Knoxville community like you have been showing up and offering support for our union with your kind and energizing words and your presence at and solidarity for our actions. Now with your financial support of these wrongly fired workers, we can further show the company that the union cannot be intimidated.

In solidarity,

The McKay Knox Workers’ Union

P.S. For more information about the union and our organizing and bargaining journey, check out our Linktree and stay tuned to our primary information channel via our Instagram.