A group of more than 30 Democratic senators is calling on major automakers to remain neutral amid workers' efforts to unionize.
In a new letter Thursday, lawmakers asked 13 automakers to pledge not to impede unionization efforts at their plants.
“We believe that neutrality agreements are a minimum standard that manufacturers must meet to respect worker rights, especially as companies receive and benefit from federal funding related to the electric vehicle transition. ” the senators wrote.
The letter, led by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (Mich.) and Debbie, states that “the transition to electric vehicles comes at the expense of workers' ability to form unions and collectively bargain for fair wages. “We believe that it does not and should not be the case.” Stabenow (Michigan State), Alex Padilla (California), LaFonza Butler (California), Sherrod Brown (Ohio State).
The letter is based on an agreement between the United Auto Workers and automakers General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis.
Following the agreement, the union announced that it would move forward with organizing the automaker's currently non-union workforce.
The senators addressed the letter to the same 13 companies targeted by the union: BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Lucid, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Rivian, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. Ta.
The letter also expressed concern about reports that some companies had “taken illegal actions to thwart unionization efforts.”
The group has subpoenaed the National Labor Relations Board to find that Tesla “employed multiple illegal tactics aimed at thwarting organizing efforts, including online harassment, employee interrogation, and retaliatory firings.” The Rights Office said it was certified.
Employees have also accused Volkswagen management of confiscating and destroying pro-union materials, and Hyundai bosses have banned pro-union materials from non-work areas during off-duty hours. He also claimed that.
The Hill has attempted to contact all of the companies named in the letter. He didn't respond right away to many. Rivian declined to comment.
Volkswagen has spoken Reuters The company denied allegations that it destroyed pro-union materials, instead saying the rooms were cleaned by maintenance staff.
“We respect the right of workers to decide on issues of union representation,” the company told Reuters, which first reported the senators' letter.
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