Volkswagen Workers in Chattanooga Vote to Join United Auto Workers
Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have overwhelmingly voted to join the United Auto Workers, marking a major milestone for the union and its first successful organizing drive of an automaker outside of Detroit’s Big Three.
According to the National Labor Relations Board, union organizing passed with 73% of the vote, or 2,628 workers, in support for the UAW. A total of roughly 3,620, or about 84%, of the 4,326 eligible VW workers voted in the election, the NLRB said. The NLRB still must certify the result, but barring any unexpected issues or challenges, the company is required to bargain in good faith with the union.
“In a historic victory, an overwhelming majority of Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have voted to join the UAW,” the union said in a release Friday night before official results were released by the NLRB. “While votes continue to be tallied, the outcome is clear: Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga are the first Southern autoworkers outside of the Big Three to win their union.”
The sides have five business days to file objections to the election, according to the NLRB. If no objections are filed, the result will be certified. VW confirmed the UAW’s win in a release Friday night but offered little additional comment.
UAW leaders and supporters are expected to use the win as a launching point for the union’s unprecedented organizing campaign of 13 automakers in the U.S. following major contract wins last year with General Motors, Ford Motor, and Chrysler parent Stellantis.
President Joe Biden, who has heavily supported organized labor and the UAW, congratulated the union on its “historic vote.”
Challenges and Opposition Overcome
UAW President Shawn Fain and others saw this week’s vote as the union’s best shot at organizing the VW plant following the strikes and record contracts at the Detroit automakers. The UAW previously failed to organize the Volkswagen plant in 2014 and 2019.
The successful organizing drive comes days after six Republican governors of Southern states, including Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, released a joint statement condemning the UAW’s push to organize in their states. The statement expressed concerns about potential job losses.
Next Steps for the Union
The union will now set its sights on negotiating with VW. It will also look to an anticipated organizing vote of Mercedes-Benz workers at an SUV plant in Vance, Alabama.
Workers at the facility earlier this month filed NLRB paperwork for a formal election to join the UAW. The vote for 5,200 workers will occur from May 13 through May 17, the NLRB announced Thursday.
UAW President Shawn Fain previously vowed to expand the union’s reach beyond the Big Three to include more automakers by 2028.
