Chattanooga, Tennessee – Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga secured a significant victory as they voted to join the United Auto Workers (UAW) late Friday. This decision marks a crucial turning point for the historically anti-union South, with nearly three quarters of the workers showing support for the union, according to the National Labor Review Board.
The voting process saw over 3,600 out of 4,326 eligible workers cast their ballots over the course of a three-day election, resulting in a resounding endorsement for the UAW. The atmosphere in the union hall at I.B.E.W. Local 175 was electric as the votes were counted, with a sea of bold red T-shirts and white lettering flooding the space in support of the union.
Joseph McMullen, an Alabama native working in the quality department, was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming pro-union sentiment displayed on the projection screen at the hall. As news of the final victory spread, jubilant celebrations ensued, with UAW president Shawn Fain arriving to personally congratulate the VW workers on their momentous achievement.
The victory comes despite strong opposition from a coalition of six Southern governors, including Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee, who had urged workers to reject unions in a letter just days before the vote. President Joe Biden also addressed these governors directly, emphasizing the importance of American workers exercising their right to organize and form unions.
This victory for the UAW at the Chattanooga VW plant follows two previous unsuccessful attempts in 2013 and 2019. It is part of a larger campaign by the UAW to expand its membership in the Southern region, which has traditionally been resistant to organized labor. The success in Chattanooga could pave the way for similar movements in other Southern states, with workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, scheduled to vote on unionization in May.
Under the leadership of Fain, the UAW has experienced a resurgence in its fortunes, culminating in a successful strike against major automakers last year that led to favorable new contracts for thousands of workers. Looking ahead, Fain remains optimistic about the future, signaling that this victory is just the beginning of a new era for organized labor in the South.