Tennessee Volkswagen Employees Make History by Voting to Join UAW

Tennessee Volkswagen Employees Make History by Voting to Join UAW

In a groundbreaking move, employees at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee have voted overwhelmingly to join the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. This marks a significant milestone for the UAW, as it is the first successful organizing drive of an automaker outside of Detroit’s Big Three.

The results of the vote were posted by the UAW’s main lawyer, revealing that 73% of the eligible workers, or 2,628 individuals, supported union organizing. A total of 84% of the more than 4,300 eligible VW workers participated in the election, with only seven ballots challenged and three voided.

The UAW hailed this victory as a historic moment, stating that it is the first time that Southern autoworkers outside of the Big Three have successfully formed a union. While the NLRB still needs to certify the result, it is expected that the company will be required to bargain in good faith with the union.

Volkswagen confirmed the UAW’s win but offered little comment on the matter. However, UAW leaders and supporters are expected to leverage this victory as a launching point for their unprecedented organizing campaign of 13 automakers in the United States.

The UAW has seen this vote as their best opportunity to organize the VW plant in Chattanooga after recent strikes and record contracts with the Detroit automakers. These agreements included significant wage increases, reinstatement of cost-of-living adjustments, and other benefits.

The successful organizing drive comes in the face of opposition from six Republican governors of Southern states, including Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. They released a joint statement condemning the UAW’s push to organize in their states, claiming that unionization would put jobs at risk.

This victory for the UAW comes after previous unsuccessful attempts to organize the Volkswagen plant in 2014 and 2019. The union faced greater outside political pressure and worker opposition during those attempts.

Now that the UAW has achieved its goal of organizing the Volkswagen plant, it will turn its attention to negotiating with the company. Additionally, the union is preparing for an anticipated organizing vote of Mercedes-Benz workers at an SUV plant in Vance, Alabama.

Workers at the Mercedes-Benz facility have already filed NLRB paperwork for a formal election to join the UAW. The vote, which will involve 5,200 workers, is scheduled to take place from May 13 through May 17.

UAW President Shawn Fain has expressed confidence in the union’s ability to continue expanding beyond the Big Three. He has set a goal of reaching the “Big Five or Big Six” by the time the union’s contracts with the Detroit automakers expire in 2028.

This historic victory for the UAW in Tennessee marks a significant milestone for labor organizing in the South. It demonstrates the power and influence of the UAW beyond Detroit’s Big Three and sets the stage for further organizing efforts in the automotive industry. The UAW’s success in Chattanooga will undoubtedly inspire other workers across the country to consider unionizing, as they witness the potential benefits and protections that come with collective bargaining. As the UAW looks ahead to negotiations with Volkswagen and future organizing votes, it is poised to reshape the landscape of labor relations in the American auto industry.