The United Auto Workers achieved a major victory as Volkswagen employees in Chattanooga, Tennessee, voted overwhelmingly to join the union, with 73% of the vote in support of the UAW. This marks the union’s first successful organizing drive of an automaker outside of Detroit’s Big Three. The National Labor Relations Board oversaw the election, with approximately 84% of eligible VW workers participating. The NLRB must still certify the result, after which the company is required to bargain in good faith with the union. While objections can be filed within five business days, if none are submitted, the result will be certified.
Volkswagen confirmed the UAW’s win and stated that they would await certification of the results by the NLRB. UAW leaders and supporters are expected to leverage this victory as a launching point for their organizing campaign of 13 automakers in the U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated the union on its historic vote, emphasizing the importance of unions in raising wages and supporting the middle class. The win at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant is seen as the union’s best opportunity to organize following successful agreements with the Detroit automakers that included significant wage increases and other benefits.
The successful organizing drive comes despite opposition from six Republican governors of Southern states, who released a joint statement condemning the UAW’s efforts to organize in their states, citing potential job losses. Previous attempts to organize the Volkswagen plant in 2014 and 2019 were unsuccessful due to political pressure and worker opposition. The UAW will now focus on negotiating with VW and preparing for an upcoming organizing vote of Mercedes-Benz workers at an SUV plant in Alabama. The vote for 5,200 workers is scheduled for May 13-17, with the union hopeful for another successful outcome.
UAW President Shawn Fain expressed optimism about the future of the union, aiming to expand beyond the Big Three automakers to the “Big Five or Big Six” by 2028. The union’s victory at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant is seen as a significant milestone that will further bolster its efforts to organize additional automakers. The success of the organizing drive solidifies the UAW’s position as a strong advocate for workers’ rights and fair labor practices, highlighting the critical role of unions in supporting the middle class and fighting for better working conditions. The union’s continued efforts to expand its reach and bring more workers into its fold demonstrate a commitment to building a stronger, more equitable labor movement in the U.S.
