UAW Will Appeal NLRB Decision Giving Anti-UAW VW Workers Voice

by Cameron Aubernon

March 13th, 2014 7:39 AM

uaw will appeal nlrb decision giving anti uaw vw workers voice

Angered by the decision made by the National Labor Relations Board to allow anti-UAW Volkswagen workers to defend the results of an election held last month at the VW plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. on whether or not to be represented by the United Auto Workers, the union has vowed to appeal.

Reuters reports the union believes the NLRB discarded its own precedent by allowing the workers — supported by both the National Right To Work Legal Defense Foundation and Southern Momentum, two of the outside groups that had campaigned against organization by the UAW — a formal role in the dispute, and expressed their displeasure in a statement:

It is an outrage that their allies, who refused to reveal their funding sources and who openly republished the illicit threats in the media and among the Volkswagen workforce, will now be allowed to participate in the NLRB hearing.

Though it was the regional office in Atlanta who signed-off on the decision to allow the anti-UAW workers a valid voice in the dispute, the UAW plans to appeal directly to the five-member NLRB board in Washington, D.C. The office is overseeing the main dispute over the election results — whose decision could lead to a new election if all is found in favor of the UAW — and is planning an investigation regarding the outside interference alleged by the union to be the main cause of their loss.

#Anti-unionization #Chattanooga #LegalDisputes #NationalLaborRelationsBoard #OrganizedLabor #SoutheasternUnitedStates #Tennessee #UnitedAutoWorkers #Volkswagen

Comments

Join the conversation

8 of 64 comments

Mikey on Mar 13, 2014

@HDC... As a former UAW and CAW member, I have accepted, that the private sector unions,are either dead, or dying. That's not to say I condone it, or welcome it. I truly believe we are in a race to the bottom. However, I have reached a stage in life, where I'm more concerned, in me and mine. I will leave the "social injustices" for the next generations to deal with. Personally I would like to see, whats left of the UAW, look after what they got, rather than trying to expand.

Like Reply
- Highdesertcat on Mar 13, 2014
  
  mikey, my philosophy is that the workers themselves should decide if they want/need union representation to communicate with their employer. Those outside of that relationship can advice, counsel and picket, but the decision must be by the people who will be controlled by their union. I grew up in a union household. The IBEW union got my dad a job when employers were biased against hiring him because of his dark Portuguese complexion, fearing that fellow white workers were not ready to accept someone with such a deep dark tan. That was then, this is now. The UAW has to expand. They cannot continue as they are. For the UAW, and many other unions in America, the fight is existential. They have to win, in order to live on as a union. They don't care about the people they represent. All any union cares about is the dues income and the political clout it brings.
  
  Like
Gogogodzilla on Mar 13, 2014

It's pretty obvious by now that VW wants a union at their plant. Why are the Republicans, champions of governmental non-interference with business, working so feverishly to stop a private business from running it's operations the way they wish to? Doesn't that contradict their own core principles? Corker looks to be more in the mold of a Democrat than anything else.

Like Reply
Mikey on Mar 13, 2014

VW may want a union, but they want it their way. I don't know if North America is ready for that.....yet.

Like Reply
- See 2 previous
- Highdesertcat on Mar 13, 2014
  
  mikey, the homeboys in Germany want a union in all their plants. The management at VW TN is just doing the home boys' bidding. I believe that ultimately the UAW will succeed in getting their camel's nose into the tent at VW TN. The UAW will flog this dead horse as long as O***a is in office, and will continue to do so when Hillary gets elected. Right now she's the only viable candidate from either political side. The key really is the election in America in Nov 2014. If the political landscape changes to Republican dominance, O***a can look forward to a very restful two remaining years and play Golf every day. If that happens, the downside is that the status quo continues for two more years and nothing will be done or accomplished legislatively. Been that way for three years now after the Democrat reversal of fortunes in 2010.
  
  Like
- Mikey on Mar 13, 2014
  
  @ HD...I follow American politics, though I don't come close to understanding it. I do understand that in a two year time frame, politics, and the auto industry, can go through, many changes. Some good ,some not so good.
  
  Like
- Highdesertcat on Mar 13, 2014
  
  @mikey Politics in America is like making sausage. It's pretty awful when you see what goes into making it. But this is what our forefathers had in mind in order to form a more perfect union. In America it takes leadership, leading from the front, setting the example, urging the people of the Republic to "Follow Me!" America had such leaders in the past, but we don't have one today, and that just complicates matters for America, and the rest of the world. But, hey, this is what the majority in America wanted. This is what the majority in America voted for. Not just once, but twice! Those of us who don't agree with the majority just have to suck it up, and deal with it.
  
  Like
Big Al from Oz on Mar 13, 2014

@mikey Unions don't represent what is needed any longer. That's why they are dying. What can unions offer a potential 'customer'? Job security? No, they destroy jobs opportunities through selfishness. Better conditions? No? Through unions of the past, governments have enacted many changes to the workplace. As the left wing ideals of unions evolved they have been displaced with better alternatives. Unions once had a place in society like the horse and cart or candle stick makers. But are these relics of old. Are they still part of capitalism or modern business? No. But the unions role has never evolved quick enough to match technology and capitalism. You see without capitalism, left wing socialism, like unionism can't survive. Why? Where will the money come from? Unionism are parasitic in that they need a host. A host is either a very large corporation or government body. Without those unionism doesn't have a hope in hell. Unions have relied on other's within a society to meet their demands when the wheels fell of the cart, ie, Detroit's auto manufacturers, Detroit, again when the city goes broke, or any other failure caused by unions and poor corporate management. I do have empathy for the workers of the city of Detroit, but they must take some of the fallout, because they were instrumental in the ridiculous and unmanageable demands that were placed on the city. The rest of Michigan or the US shouldn't bailout cities, business from poor decision making. A small business employee who is more atuned with the company he works for would make ridiculous claims which could cause the demise of his employment. If he did he would be sacked and rightly so, unless government regulations were violated. Small business is what keep many countries going and as I stated without captialism, unionism couldn't of existed.

Like Reply