Nissan Technicians in Tennessee Vote Against Union With Machinists – Bloomberg

In a result that has been described as a surprise, Nissan technicians in Tennessee have voted against a unionization bid launched by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW).

The IAMAW had sought to organize workers at the Nissan Motor Company’s assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, in an effort to increase wages and improve working conditions for the technicians. However, the workers at Smyrna voted 2,244 to 1,307 against the unionization measure, representing a majority of 63.7%.

In the lead-up to the vote, the IAMAW had argued that the technicians at Smyrna were earning significantly less than their counterparts at other Nissan plants around the world, and that they had to work in unsafe conditions. The IAMAW also claimed that Nissan had used intimidation tactics to discourage workers from unionizing, including making threats of plant closure and job loss if the measure passed.

Despite the IAMAW’s assertions, the technicians at Smyrna ultimately decided against unionization. In a statement, Nissan said that it would continue to work with its employees to improve safety and job security, and that it respected the outcome of the vote.

The IAMAW, however, has said that it will continue to fight for the rights of the employees at Nissan, and that it will pursue other legal avenues to ensure that employees receive the wages and working conditions they deserve.

The vote at Smyrna is being seen as a major setback for organized labor in the United States, which has seen union membership decline significantly in recent years. It will also put pressure on the IAMAW to prove that it can still be an effective advocate for workers’ rights in the 21st century.