US Volkswagen Plant Workers in Tennessee Seek to Join United Auto Workers Amid Workplace Concerns

By Thea Felicity

Mar 18, 2024 01:48 PM EDT

Trump Threatens EU With Tariffs On Cars — WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - MARCH 08: Workers assemble Volkswagen Golf cars at the Volkswagen factory on March 8, 2018 in Wolfsburg, Germany. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on imports of cars made in Europe in an ongoing and escalating riff with the European Commission following Trump's original announcement that he will impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, to which the European Commission countered with potential tariffs on U.S. motorcycles, bourbon and jeans. Volkswagen is due to announce financial results for 2017 next week.
(Photo : Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images)

Employees at the US Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, initiated a petition to join the United Auto Workers (UAW) union.

According to The Guardian, the decision announced on Monday (Mar. 18) follows a wave of support from the Volkswagen plant's workers, who have signed union authorization cards in large numbers.

Led by a supermajority, this move signifies a collective effort to address various concerns regarding working conditions and the balance between work and family life.

The Influence of United Auto Workers Union In US Volkswagen Plant

For starters, the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga stands out as the only one within the global Volkswagen network without union representation, a fact reiterated by the UAW. Allegations of unfair labor practices have prompted the UAW to take legal action against Volkswagen, citing claims of union busting, which the company denies.

Previous attempts by the United Auto Workers (UAW) to establish union representation at the Chattanooga plant in 2014 and 2019 encountered obstacles, including opposition from anti-union groups and Republican figures.

Despite these challenges, workers persist in pursuing a stronger voice in workplace affairs and enhancing working conditions.

US Volkswagen plant workers are seeking union representation to ensure employee involvement in decision-making processes to advocate for their rights.

Workers voiced worries about long work hours, especially during seasonal shutdowns, affecting their family time. Seeking union representation, they hope to negotiate for better work-life balance and increased control over their schedules.

With this current campaign, the US Volkswagen plant targets approximately 150,000 workers. It follows notable gains secured by the UAW in contract negotiations with major automakers such as Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis in the previous year.

In February 2024 alone, the United Auto Workers (UAW) reached a major milestone in its organizing campaign, with over 50% of the 4,000 workers in the bargaining unit at the Volkswagen plant signing union authorization cards.

Currently, the UAW has achieved notable progress in organizing unions at other auto manufacturing sites, such as the Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama, where most workers have expressed support for unionization.

Sectors