The United Auto Workers' Third Attempt in Chattanooga
Amid high expectations, the United Auto Workers are making their third attempt to unionize in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
With 4,300 Volkswagen workers casting their final ballots on Friday, labor advocates are optimistic about the union's chances after two previous unsuccessful tries.
"A lot is at stake in this decision," said Harley Shaken, a professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. "This is a crucial moment not only for the workers in Chattanooga but also for labor in the South and beyond."
The UAW appears to have strong support this time, with around 70% of the plant's workers reportedly in favor of unionization before the vote was even requested. The voting, which began on Wednesday, will conclude at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, with the ballot counting process expected to last a few hours.
"If they can't organize at Volkswagen, you'd have to question their ability to organize at any of these Southern auto plants," noted John Logan, chair of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) has faced challenges in organizing auto factories in the South for years, with limited success at heavy truck and bus plants. This latest vote at the Volkswagen plant marks the UAW's third attempt, after previous rejections in 2014 and 2019. The UAW also lost a 2017 vote at a Nissan plant in Canton, Mississippi.
A victory for the UAW would establish a significant presence in the region, where organizing efforts often face opposition from the company, local community, and political and business leaders, according to experts.
Despite pushback from the governors of six states, who expressed concerns about potential job losses, the UAW's success at the Volkswagen factory would make it the sole unionized foreign commercial carmaker in the U.S. and the first new addition to the UAW since the recent strike against major automakers.
The UAW's recent momentum can be attributed to the significant wage gains achieved in the Detroit Three contract negotiations, leading to what is known as the 'UAW bump' among non-union automakers. This trend has sparked increased interest in unionization efforts, as companies acknowledge the benefits of UAW representation.
In the case of Volkswagen, a company with unionized workers worldwide, resistance to the UAW's campaign has been less intense compared to other corporations, signaling a potential shift in attitudes towards unionization within the industry.
Without a doubt, the Chattanooga plant stands out as the only one among Volkswagen's approximately 120 global facilities lacking any form of employee representation.
Volkswagen expressed its stance on the matter, stating, "We respect our workers' right to a democratic process and to determine who should represent their interests. We fully support an NLRB vote so every team member has a chance to a secret ballot vote on this important decision. Volkswagen is proud of our working environment in Chattanooga that provides some of the best paying jobs in the area."
Following the VW vote, there will be another election next month at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance and Woodstock, Alabama.
