Yolanda Peoples, a 13-year veteran at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is eager to begin voting on whether to join the UAW. If the more than 3,000 workers vote in favor during the three-day voting period, they will be the first at a foreign-owned plant in the U.S. to join the union. Despite previous failed attempts by the UAW to win similar votes at transplant plants, UAW President Shawn Fain is confident that this time will be different.
A leading labor expert, Harley Shaiken, shares Fain’s confidence in the UAW’s potential success at the VW plant. The recent popularity of unions in America, especially among younger workers, combined with the proven benefits of union representation, may contribute to a favorable outcome. Yolanda Peoples recalls the previous failed vote in 2019 and highlights the outside forces attempting to persuade workers to vote against the union. Despite the potential for defeat, labor expert Marick Masters believes that a loss would not be devastating to the UAW, as long as there is a willingness to continue organizing efforts.
As Volkswagen workers prepare to cast their ballots, workers at a Mercedes-Benz plant near Tuscaloosa, Alabama have also filed petitions to hold a vote on UAW representation. Organizer Jeremy Kimbrell notes that support is growing within the plant for the union. Shawn Fain plans to be present in Chattanooga during the voting period to support the VW workers and hopes to celebrate a victory. Yolanda Peoples and her co-workers are ready to begin voting, as they eagerly anticipate the outcome of the decision.
The significance of the potential unionization at the VW plant extends beyond the immediate impact on the workers. A successful vote could mark a turning point for the UAW, especially after the union’s victories in recent contract negotiations with major automakers. The shift in the cultural perception of unions, as well as their proven ability to deliver on behalf of workers, may contribute to a positive outcome at the VW plant. Despite the uncertainty of putting an issue to a vote, the UAW remains optimistic about the possibility of gaining representation at the foreign-owned plant.
