In 2019, the United Auto Workers lost an election at Volkswagen’s Tennessee plant, with Rep. Chuck Fleischmann applauding the union’s defeat. However, the issue has risen again as employees are set to cast ballots in another vote at the plant. This time, Fleischmann is not wading into the election, stating that he believes the choice of whether to unionize or not should be left to Volkswagen employees, a reasonable position his GOP colleagues haven’t always shared. The UAW previously lost elections at the Volkswagen facility in both 2014 and 2019, with many attributing the losses to political interference by Tennessee Republicans.
Leading up to the 2014 vote, former Gov. Bill Haslam openly expressed his desire for the union drive to fail, while former Sen. Bob Corker stated that the plant would receive a new SUV production line if workers voted down the UAW. State lawmakers also threatened to withhold tax incentives in the event of a union victory. The union lost the election and unsuccessfully appealed, citing an “atmosphere of fear” created by politicians. In 2019, Republican Gov. Bill Lee continued to publicly oppose the union, leading a plant-wide meeting where he encouraged workers to stay union-free. The UAW ended up losing by a narrow margin of 57 votes, attributing their previous losses to political interference.
Despite opposition from politicians like Lee, union supporters within the plant are optimistic about their chances in the upcoming vote. The UAW is coming off a historic strike against the “Big 3” automakers and has seen a surge in organizing efforts at non-union plants. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz employees in Alabama have also petitioned for a union election at their plant. Union favorability is at a six-decade high, signaling a positive environment for organized labor. Fleischmann, although personally not supporting unions, acknowledged that he represents many union members in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where the U.S. Department of Energy is a major employer.
Fleischmann’s decision to stay out of the current election contrasts with past political interference from Tennessee Republicans. In previous elections, politicians openly expressed their opposition to the union drive, leading to the UAW’s defeats in 2014 and 2019. Fleischmann believes that the decision to unionize should ultimately be left to the Volkswagen employees, reflecting a more hands-off approach towards the upcoming vote. Despite continued opposition from Republican leaders like Gov. Bill Lee, union supporters are hopeful for a different outcome this time, buoyed by recent successes in organizing efforts within the auto industry and high favorability towards unions.
As Volkswagen employees prepare to cast their ballots in the upcoming union election, the issue of unionization at the Tennessee plant has reignited. While past elections saw political interference from Tennessee Republicans, the current atmosphere appears more favorable towards the UAW and organized labor in general. Fleischmann’s decision to refrain from involvement in the election is a departure from previous instances of political interference, signaling a shift towards allowing Volkswagen employees to determine the outcome of the union vote. Despite differing views on unions, the upcoming election represents a critical moment in shaping the future of labor relations at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee.
