In an unprecedented move, Volkswagen workers at a Chattanooga, Tennessee plant have chosen overwhelmingly to join the United Auto Workers (UAW). This surge in union membership marks a historic achievement for the UAW, highlighting its first successful organization of a foreign car company outside Detroit’s Big Three.
Union inclusion won by a considerable 73% of the vote, with 2,628 employees endorsing the UAW, as reported by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Approximately 84% of the 4,326 qualified Volkswagen workers participated in the vote, according to the NLRB.
“An overwhelming majority of Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga have chosen to join the UAW in a historic vote,” the union announced before official results were released. The inference is clear – these are the first Southern automobile workers outside the Big Three to earn their union.
The results require certification from the NLRB, and barring unforeseen complications or disputes, the company must engage in good faith negotiations with the union. These talks can be face-to-face or initially go through mediation. According to NLRB guidelines, any objections to the election must be filed within five business days. If there are no filed objections, the results will be certified.
In a recent statement, Volkswagen corroborated the UAW’s win but provided no further elaboration. “We will anticipate the NLRB’s certification of the results,” the company announced. “Volkswagen expresses gratitude to its Chattanooga workers for participating in this vote.”
This victory is expected to serve as a stepping stone for UAW’s unusual campaign of proactively organizing 13 vehicle manufacturers in the U.S., following substantial contract terminations last year with General Motors, Ford Motor, and Chrysler parent Stellantis.
A vocal advocate for organized labor and the UAW, President Joe Biden applauded the union’s “remarkable vote.” He noted that union victories across the country have played a critical role in increasing wages and fortifying the middle class.
Meanwhile, the union’s successful drive of organization comes shortly after six Republican governors from Southern states delivered a joint criticism of UAW’s unionization efforts. They claim unionization would threaten the jobs their states have been instrumental in securing in the booming automotive manufacturing industry.
Previously, unsuccessful attempts to organize the Volkswagen plant by the UAW were made in 2014 and 2019, due to significant outside political pressure and worker opposition.
With the win under its belt, the union now plans to engage in talks with Volkswagen and anticipates a union vote from Mercedes-Benz workers at an SUV manufacturing plant in Vance, Alabama. UAW President, Shawn Fain, previously pledged to extend beyond the Big Three, increasing reach to becoming the “Big Five or Big Six.” This pledge is expected to materialize by the time the four-and-a-half-year contracts with Detroit’s automakers terminate in 2028.
