Employees at a Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee made history by voting overwhelmingly to join the United Auto Workers union on Friday. This decision marks a significant test for the UAW’s efforts to organize nonunion factories. The union secured 2,628 votes, making up 73% of the ballots cast, in an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board.
The successful vote means that both Volkswagen and the union must now engage in bargaining in good faith, pending any objections filed within the next five business days. President Joe Biden, who received the UAW’s endorsement, praised the union’s victory. He highlighted the recent union successes in various sectors, emphasizing how unions play a vital role in raising wages and supporting the middle class.
This victory comes after two previous rejections of union membership by workers at the Chattanooga plant. The UAW’s new leadership, led by President Shawn Fain, has been instrumental in revitalizing the union’s confrontational approach towards major automakers in Detroit. Fain’s leadership, combined with support from Biden, led to successful strikes last fall resulting in lucrative new contracts for union workers.
Looking ahead, the union is eyeing a vote at Mercedes factories near Tuscaloosa, Alabama in May. Fain expressed confidence in the union’s win, attributing it to the shifting dynamics and sentiment among workers. He sees this as a positive development that will further fuel unionization efforts across the country.
Following the vote, Volkswagen expressed gratitude to the workers for their participation, noting that 83.5% of production workers took part in the election. Despite concerns raised by Southern governors about potential job losses, the resounding win at Volkswagen serves as a warning to nonunion manufacturers. Marick Masters, a business professor, predicts increased pressure on nonunion companies to address worker concerns and avoid unionization.
In response to the union victory, Volkswagen and other nonunion companies have already implemented significant pay raises for their workers. Last fall, Volkswagen raised production worker pay by 11%, boosting top base wages to $32.40 per hour, surpassing the median household income in the Chattanooga area.
This momentous decision to unionize the VW plant in Chattanooga represents a significant milestone for the UAW. While not the first unionized auto assembly plant in the South, it marks a crucial step towards strengthening workers’ rights and bargaining power in the region.