Volkswagen workers win a historic victory for labor unions in the United States

Historic victory for an American auto union: workers at the German automaker Volkswagen in Tennessee voted overwhelmingly for the UAW (United Auto Workers) to represent them. 73% of the 5,500 workers at the Chattanooga plant chose this union representation, according to results presented Friday by Volkswagen. This is the first of the foreign automobile factories in the American South.

Volkswagen, which is committed to a neutral stance, indicated in its press release that the three-day vote, which began on Wednesday, “was held by a democratic vote, by secret ballot, monitored by the National Labor Relations Board” (NLRB), the federal agency responsible for labor law.

“Volkswagen thanks its Chattanooga employees for voting,” the manufacturer added.

The parties have five days to file their objections, according to the NLRB, which added: “The employer must now start negotiating in good faith with the union”.

First for a foreign manufacturer

“Volkswagen employees have written history! » announced the UAW in a message on X (formerly Twitter).

The vote is a major victory for Shawn Fain, the UAW’s new president since March 2023, as the union tries to expand its presence. Until now, it had not been able to establish itself in any non-American car manufacturer. They have taken up residence in the Southern states of the United States that are not open to labor unions.

Two attempts to consolidate the Chattanooga plant have already failed in recent years. But the alliance has recently made significant gains. This victory follows the progress of the autumn between “The Big 3” – Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. The UAW had won an average raise of 25% over a four-year period, the contracts approved in November after six weeks of an unprecedented strike.

Following this agreement, the UAW launched a mobilization campaign in November among 13 manufacturers, mainly located in the South, employing 150,000 people in total.

After this first vote in Chattanooga, the next one is expected from May 13 to 17 at the German Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance (Alabama) which employs 6,100 workers.

The victory in Chattanooga gives additional impetus to the UAW, which also named a Japanese Toyota plant in Missouri and a South Korean Hyundai plant in Alabama among those involved in its campaign.

Joe Biden approved this vote, not the Republicans

Re-election candidate President Joe Biden, who made a historic visit to the UAW picket line in Michigan in September 2023, welcomed the election results. For him, it shows “Once again the middle class built America and the unions continue to build and expand the middle class for all workers”.

In previous elections, including two in Chattanooga, the UAW had failed to establish itself in the South. Still, the union must face rejection from local political leaders. An open letter from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, signed by five other governors in the region, all Republicans, accused him of endangering the economy and jobs of the region.

Among the signatories, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp assured Friday on CNBC that the governors wanted to protect the local model based on “better relations between our employers and their employees”accusing the UAW of wanting “destroy”.

The point of change of union

Mr. Biden denounced this open letter as a base plan “lie” alleged shedding “vote weakening” in Volkswagen.

To Stephen Silvia, a labor writer for the UAW’s southern stake (“Southern Gambling of the UAW”), this lot includes “turning point” for the union and raise the stakes for the one planned in Alabama.

“The South is based on a model of low wages and limited worker expression” and the latter “would like to change,” he explains. “There will be a lot more political interest, not just in Alabama (but also) in Washington.”

With organizations