Volkswagen is appealing to the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to reconsider its decision to allow the automaker’s Chattanooga maintenance workers to vote separately in terms of union representation rather than as with one whole body for the workforce.
The manufacturer’s Skilled Maintenance employees voted 94% in favour of UAW representation at the Tennessee plant, but it appears Volkswagen would prefer to treat the entire workforce as one body much in the same way it operates in Germany through its Works Council.
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“As has always been the case, Volkswagen respects the right of our employees to decide the question of union representation,” said a Volkswagen US statement sent to just-auto from Chattanooga. “Nevertheless, we believe a union of only maintenance employees fractures our workforce and does not take into account the overwhelming community of interest shared between our maintenance and production employees.
“Therefore, as we indicated prior to the election, we are appealing to the NLRB to reconsider the decision to separate Volkswagen maintenance and production workers and to allow them to vote as one group on the matter of union representation.”
What is clear is the contentious issue of unionisation in America’s Southern States is provoking yet more controversy, with some US politicians such as Senator Bob Corker (R) previoulsy wading into the debate concerning the UAW.
A key to the UAW’s policy of gradually making unionisation acceptable at the plant comes however, from its statement welcoming the Skilled Trades vote as “moving toward” collective bargaining to reach a multi-year contract between Volkswagen and staff at the Chattanooga plant.
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By GlobalData“A key objective for our local union always has been moving toward collective bargaining for the purpose of reaching a multi-year contract between Volkswagen and employees in Chattanooga,” said UAW affiliate, Local 42, president, Mike Cantrell.
“We have said from the beginning of Local 42 there are multiple paths to reach collective bargaining. We believe these paths will give all of us a voice at Volkswagen in due time.”
Local 42 insists it has strong support among blue-collar workers in the Chattanooga plant — adding the claim the Volkswagen facility remains unrepresented on the Volkswagen Global Group Works Council.
Gary Casteel, secretary-treasurer of the UAW and director of the international union’s Transnational Department, urged Volkswagen to drop its plans to appeal against the outcome of the election.
“It’s overdue for Volkswagen to refocus on the values that made it a successful brand — environmental sustainability and meaningful employee representation,” he said.
“The hard-working members of UAW Local 42 stand ready to assist in the Volkswagen comeback story. Our hope is the company now is ready to move forward in the German spirit of co-determination.”
Volkswagen says it has invested around US$1bn in the local economy for the Chattanooga plant and has created more than 5,000 jobs in the region. The Chattanooga facility builds the Passat Sedan.
“Whatever the outcome of our appeal, Volkswagen’s commitment to Tennessee remains unchanged,” added the German automaker.
“Our partnership with Tennessee is a long-term investment and it is vital to the future of Volkswagen in America.”
