UAW, IG Metall Working To Jointly Organize Chattanooga VW Plant

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

While former EICs Schmitt and Niedermeyer documented the increasing co-operation between the UAW and IG Metall, recent developments have taken the relationship to new twists and turns. First there was the appointment of IG Metall bigwig Bernd Osterloh to VW of America’s board of directors. Now, Reuters is reporting that the two unions, along with the VW global works council, have signed a letter of intent to represent VW workers at its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant.

Since the UAW lost a 2013 vote to represent the plant’s workers, various machinations have occurred. A “voluntary” union local was established by the UAW in an attempt to organize the plant’s labor force, only to be met with another outfit that was distinguished by its anti-UAW stance.

Despite the “voluntary” nature of the UAW’s Local 42 (as its known), the bargaining unit could be recognized by VW if a majority of workers decide to join it. This would be a major coup for the UAW, which is desperate to make headway in organizing a foreign plant, as well as IG Metall, which would further solidify its influence in Volkswagen Group affairs, after causing a stink at the massive Wolfsburg assembly plant, where VW is experiencing labor unrest amid a bumpy rollout for its new MQB based cars.

Osterloh’s appointment to the VWoA board and the organization of Chattanooga workers under the auspices of the UAW may simply be the price that Chattanooga has to pay for getting the new 7-seat VW crossover. VW, ever careful not to piss off IG Metall, has never adopted an anti-UAW stance despite insider reports claiming that unionization was not a desired outcome. But in the spirit of “ Solidarity Forever“, IG Metall appears to determined to bring their UAW brothers into the plant, even if they have to let them in via the side door.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Malikknows Malikknows on Sep 30, 2014

    This American thinks it was a perfect choice in this case. As the caption implies, the Left cares not one whit for democracy, when it fails them they will use other means to achieve their goals. Just read a bit of Saul Alinsky. There are few examples of failure in social policy as stark as that of unionization and the auto industry, yet the collectivists are undeterred. Yes, we do have distributive justice issues in the USA but unionization has been tried and it has failed. Let's move on.

    • See 4 previous
    • Malikknows Malikknows on Oct 01, 2014

      @Big L from Chicago I gave you one, Larry. Gay marriage. The Left routinely relies on bureaucracies and the judiciary to achieve its social goals. In CA and throughout the country, gay marriage voted down, left-wing judges will impose it anyway. It won a popular vote once, I believe, yet it is being imposed by judges across the country, in states where it was voted down. Abortion is another one. Gun rights are another one. The judiciary is the least democratic branch of our government, and the Left relies on it to achieve what it cannot at the polls. If your thinking ID requirements for voting are "anti-democratic," sorry, overwhelming majorities of Americans believe otherwise. In this unionization case, no surprise that the Left is not taking no for an answer. They will continue to work this thing until they get what they want. The actual vote of the workers meant nothing to them.

  • Malikknows Malikknows on Sep 30, 2014

    Xeranar, what are you talking about?

  • Joe This is called a man in the middle attack and has been around for years. You can fall for this in a Starbucks as easily as when you’re charging your car. Nothing new here…
  • AZFelix Hilux technical, preferably with a swivel mount.
  • ToolGuy This is the kind of thing you get when you give people faster internet.
  • ToolGuy North America is already the greatest country on the planet, and I have learned to be careful about what I wish for in terms of making changes. I mean, if Greenland wants to buy JDM vehicles, isn't that for the Danes to decide?
  • ToolGuy Once again my home did not catch on fire and my fire extinguisher(s) stayed in the closet, unused. I guess I threw my money away on fire extinguishers.(And by fire extinguishers I mean nuclear missiles.)
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