Kelcey Smith shows UAW buttons in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 10, 2024.
Kevin Wurm | The Washington Put up | Getty Photos
Volkswagen staff in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have overwhelmingly voted to affix the United Auto Employees — marking a serious milestone for the union and its first profitable organizing drive of an automaker outdoors of Detroit’s Massive Three.
Union organizing handed with 73% of the vote, or 2,628 staff, in help for the UAW, in accordance with the Nationwide Labor Relations Board, which oversaw the election. A complete of roughly 3,620, or about 84%, of the 4,326 eligible VW staff voted within the election, the NLRB mentioned. Seven ballots have been challenged and three others have been voided.
“In a historic victory, an awesome majority of Volkswagen staff in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have voted to affix the UAW,” the union mentioned in a launch Friday night time earlier than official outcomes have been launched by the NLRB. “Whereas votes proceed to be tallied, the end result is obvious: Volkswagen staff in Chattanooga are the primary Southern autoworkers outdoors of the Massive Three to win their union.”
The NLRB nonetheless should certify the consequence, however barring any sudden points or challenges, the corporate is required to cut price in good religion with the union. The talks may be direct or go first by way of a mediator.
The perimeters have 5 enterprise days to file objections to the election, in accordance with the NLRB. If no objections are filed, the consequence shall be licensed.
VW confirmed the UAW’s win in a launch Friday night time however supplied little further remark.
“We’ll await certification of the outcomes by the NLRB,” the corporate mentioned. “Volkswagen thanks its Chattanooga staff for voting on this election.”
UAW leaders and supporters are anticipated to make use of the win as a launching level for the union’s unprecedented organizing marketing campaign of 13 automakers within the U.S. following main contract wins final yr with Basic Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler guardian Stellantis.
President Joe Biden, who has closely supported organized labor and the UAW, congratulated the union on its “historic vote.”
“Throughout the nation, union members have logged main wins and huge raises, together with auto staff, actors, port staff, Teamsters, writers, warehouse and well being care staff, and extra. Collectively, these union wins have helped elevate wages and exhibit as soon as once more that the middle-class constructed America and that unions are nonetheless constructing and increasing the center class for all staff,” Biden mentioned in an announcement.
On this aerial view, a Volkswagen car meeting plant is seen on March 20, 2024 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Elijah Nouvelage | Getty Photos
UAW President Shawn Fain and others noticed this week’s vote because the union’s greatest shot at organizing the VW plant following the strikes and document contracts on the Detroit automakers. These agreements included important wage improve, reinstatement of cost-of-living changes and different advantages.
The profitable organizing drive comes days after six Republican governors of Southern states, together with Tennessee Gov. Invoice Lee, launched a joint assertion condemning the UAW’s push to arrange of their states.
“We’ve got labored tirelessly on behalf of our constituents to carry good-paying jobs to our states. These jobs have change into a part of the material of the automotive manufacturing trade. Unionization would definitely put our states’ jobs in jeopardy — in reality, on this yr already, the entire UAW automakers have introduced layoffs,” the assertion mentioned.
The UAW beforehand failed to arrange the Volkswagen plant in 2014 and 2019 because it confronted larger outdoors political strain and employee opposition. Employees rejected union membership by simply 833 to 776 votes 5 years in the past.
UAW President Shawn Fain greets members attending a rally in help of the labor union strike on the UAW Native 551 corridor on the South Aspect on October 7, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.
Jim Vondruska | Getty Photos
The union will now set its sights on negotiating with VW. It should additionally look to an anticipated organizing vote of Mercedes-Benz staff at an SUV plant in Vance, Alabama.
Employees on the facility earlier this month filed NLRB paperwork for a proper election to affix the UAW. The vote for five,200 staff will happen from Could 13 by way of Could 17, the NLRB introduced Thursday.
“The very first thing it is advisable do to win is to consider which you could win,” Fain instructed Mercedes-Benz staff final month. “That this job may be higher. That your life may be higher. And that these issues are price preventing for. That’s the reason we arise. That is why you are right here at present. As a result of deep down, you consider it is doable.”
Fain beforehand vowed to maneuver past the Massive Three and develop to the “Massive 5 or Massive Six” by the point its four-and-a-half-year contracts with the Detroit automakers expire in 2028.