Kelsey Smith displays UAW buttons in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 10, 2024.
Kevin Worm | The Washington Post | Getty Images
Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, voted overwhelmingly to join the UAW — marking a major milestone for the union and the first successful organizing campaign for an automaker outside of Detroit's Big Three.
The union organization passed with 73% of the vote, or 2,628 workers, in support of the UAW, according to the National Labor Relations Board, which oversaw the election. Nearly 3,620, or about 84%, of the 4,326 eligible Volkswagen workers voted in the election, the NLRB said. Seven ballots were challenged and three others were invalidated.
“In a historic victory, the overwhelming majority of Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, voted to join the UAW,” the union said. he said in a statement Friday night Before the official results are released by the NLRB. “As the votes continue to be counted, the result is clear: VW workers in Chattanooga are the first Southern auto workers outside of the Big Three to win their union.”
The NLRB must still certify the outcome, but barring any unforeseen issues or challenges, the company must negotiate in good faith with the union. Conversations can be direct Or go through a broker first.
Both sides have five business days to file objections to the election, according to the NLRB. If no objections are raised, the result will be certified.
VW confirmed the UAW's victory in Friday night's edition but offered little additional comment.
“We will wait for the results to be certified by the NLRB.” The company said. “VW thanks its workers in Chattanooga for voting in this election.”
UAW leaders and supporters are expected to use the win as a springboard for an unprecedented organizing drive for the union, which includes 13 U.S. automakers after winning major contracts last year with General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Stellantis, Chrysler's parent company.
President Joe Biden, who has strongly supported organized labor and the UAW, congratulated the union on its “historic vote.”
“Across the country, union members scored big victories and big raises, including auto workers, actors, dock workers, truck drivers, clerks, warehouse and health care workers, and more. Together, these union victories have helped raise wages and demonstrate again.” That the middle class built America and that unions are still building and expanding the middle class for all workers. Biden said In the current situation.
In this aerial view, a Volkswagen assembly plant is visible on March 20, 2024 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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UAW President Sean Fine and others saw this week's vote as the union's best chance to organize the Volkswagen plant after record strikes and contracts at Detroit automakers. These agreements included significant wage increases, cost-of-living adjustments and other benefits.
The successful organizing campaign comes days after six Republican governors of Southern states, including Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, issued a joint statement condemning the UAW's campaign to organize in their states.
“We have worked tirelessly on behalf of our constituents to bring good-paying jobs to our states. These jobs have become part of the fabric of the auto manufacturing industry. Unionization would certainly put our states’ jobs at risk — in fact, in this year ago, all Automakers in the UAW announced layoffs. Statement He said.
The UAW previously failed to organize a Volkswagen plant in 2014 and 2019 as it faced outside political pressure and greater labor opposition. Workers rejected union membership by 833 votes compared to just 776 five years ago.
UAW President Sean Fine greets members attending a rally in support of a labor union strike at the UAW Local 551 hall on the South Side on October 7, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.
Jim Vondruska | Getty Images
The union will now set its sights on negotiating with Volkswagen. It will also look ahead to an expected organized vote for Mercedes-Benz workers at the SUV plant in Vance, Alabama.
Workers at the facility earlier this month filed NLRB paperwork to hold a formal election to join the UAW. The NLRB announced Thursday that voting for 5,200 workers will take place May 13 through May 17.
“The first thing you have to do to win is to believe you can win,” Fine said Tell Mercedes-Benz workers Last month. “That this job could be better. That your life could be better. That these things are worth fighting for. That's why we stand up. That's why you're here today. Because deep down, you believe it's possible.”
Fine previously pledged to surpass the Big Three and expand into the “Big Five or Big Six” by the time its four-and-a-half-year contracts with the Detroit automakers expire in 2028.
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