UPDATE: Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly released a statement on the UAW vote at Volkswagen.
“This decision was always the workers’ to make, and the decision to unionize was clear. Chattanooga has a long history of constructive labor-management relationships, and unions have contributed significantly to the success of our city and the growth of our middle class, proving that what’s good for workers can also be good for business and good for the community,” said Mayor Kelly.
He goes on to say he’s hopeful UAW and VW leadership work together to build a better VW.
UPDATE: Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp shared his thoughts on Volkswagen employees voting to join the UAW.
The mayor posted on social media saying, “Every single foreign auto plant that the UAW has unionized has closed. By contrast, VW has thrived here without them. Now that the UAW won in Chattanooga, I hope they will at least learn from our success as they try to overcome their reputation for job losses and corruption.”
We’ve reached out to the mayor’s office for further information on Mayor Wamp’s claims in this post.
UPDATE: An overwhelming majority of Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga have voted to join the UAW, UAW says.
Volkswagen says that a total of 3,613 votes were cast, which is 83.5% of employees who were eligible to vote in the three-day election.
A total of 2,628 votes, or 73% participants, voted “Yes” for union representation by the United Auto Workers. Those voting “No” were 985 or 27 % against representation by the UAW.
The secret ballot was overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, but the vote must still be certified by the NRLB.
The apparent victory marks a new, historic point for the UAW in the southern US.
PREVIOUS STORY: Volkswagen workers are voting on whether to have union representation. Will the third time be a charm?
Many have been casting ballots all week on whether the company should have union representation.
Those supporting the UAW say its an opportunity for better benefits and to secure a stake in the company’s future.
On the opposing side, some say unionizing may not yield the success many had hoped.
An employee at Volkswagen and a representative with the Center for Union Facts share differing views about today.
Issac Meadows says unionizing offers workers a say in scheduling, pay, and benefits.
On the other hand, Charlyce Bozzello says there are disadvantages, citing corruption in previous companies.
This is the third time the UAW has tried to unionize the workers at the Volkswagen plant. The last times were in 2014 and 2019.
The UAW claims a super-majority of the plant’s four-thousand workers signed cards supporting union representation.
Volkswagen attempted to find a middle ground with workers before. They raised wages by 11% in November.
Volkswagen leaders sent our News team a statement saying, they will support this democratic process and support every team member’s privacy.
Voting is expected to end by 9:00 pm tonight with results to be revealed later.
Stay tuned for updates.
Jessica Roberts is a seasoned business writer who deciphers the intricacies of the corporate world. With a focus on finance and entrepreneurship, she provides readers with valuable insights into market trends, startup innovations, and economic developments.
