UAW says majority of workers at Tennessee VW plant signed union cards

A majority of autoworkers at the Volkswagen (VW) plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have signed union cards with the United Auto Workers (UAW). Announced on Tuesday.

The milestone represents a major victory for the union’s efforts to expand into the South.

The announcement comes after the UAW launched a campaign for its members at the plant last fall, building on momentum from a six-week strike at three major automakers to win increased pay and benefits for its members. This took place less than two months ago.

The Chattanooga plant is Volkswagen’s only U.S. plant and one of several unionized plants in the South. Following contract wins at the Big Three automakers, Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, which are mostly based in the Midwest, the UAW said in November it would focus on expanding factories in the South and West Coast, where there are few unions. Announced.

The union also began operations at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama last month. As of early January, about 30% of the plant’s employees had signed union cards. The union says the Chattanooga plant is the first to be majority non-union since the expansion effort began.

“Excitement is growing, now at 50% and continuing to grow. New organizers are joining every day and expanding our efforts to all areas of the plant,” VW said. employee Zach Costello said in a statement.

“Just because we’re in the South doesn’t mean our work is worth less, our benefits are less, or we don’t have rights,” he continued. “All workers should have a voice, and I hope the success we are achieving here will show workers across the country what is possible.”

The UAW said it would not call for an election until 70% of factory workers sign union cards. conservative approach This makes the eventual union election more likely to be successful.

The South is a weak area for organized labor in general and the UAW in particular. Although some small parts manufacturers are unionized, the region’s major auto plants are not.

A union vote at the same Chattanooga VW plant in 2014 was rejected. A vote at the Nissan plant in Mississippi was also rejected in 2017.