UAW says Volkswagen workers vote overwhelmingly to join union, giving it groundbreaking landslide win
UAW says Volkswagen workers vote overwhelmingly to join union, giving it groundbreaking landslide win
Hourly workers at Volkswagen’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee overwhelming voted to join the United Auto Workers late Friday, a major breakthrough in the union’s effort to organize workers at plants nationwide.
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How is this even a discussion at a company like Volkswagen?
At their headquarters in Wolfsburg 99% of their workers are members of the union and the union's chairmen are famous for being the most powerful amongst all companies in Germany.
Are they participating in union busting bullshit despite a background like that?
Judging by the article Volkswagen is not really opposing the union effort? They appear to be okay going along with whatever the employees decide.
Unlike many employers who conduct campaigns against union membership when faced with an organizing effort, Volkswagen had remained neutral in this campaign. Its statement once the vote was announced was similarly even-handed, stating only the vote results and that “We will await certification of the results by the NLRB. Volkswagen thanks its Chattanooga workers for voting in this election.”
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One reason the company was more neutral than many employers facing a union vote is the strength of unions in its home country of Germany. The main union for its plants there has a seat on the company’s board.
The main union for its plants there has a seat on the company’s board.
Which is basically mandatory in Germany as a company's works council has co-determination rights by law and usually votes some of their own to join the board (union membership not required but often the default).
Yes.
No, they aren't. The union busting was being attempted by TN lawmakers.
Could be that they feared it spreading to other manufacturers, too and establishing a stronger union culture in the us?
If that’s your takeaway, you have zero knowledge of German automakers history with regard to labor in markets like the US.
Well I guess you have zero knowledge of the unionization effort in Chattanooga. VW didn't attempt to "bust" the unionization. How do I know? I know several employees of this very facility personally.
Do you?