Volkswagen Mum On Alleged Expansion Of U.S. Plant
Though United States Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee claimed Volkswagen would announce an expansion of the plant in his native Chattanooga — slated to build a midsize SUV based on the CrossBlue Concept from this year’s Detroit Auto Show — if the workers rejected the United Auto Workers in last month’s attempt to organise the plant, the German automaker has remained silent as of this weekend.
The Detroit Free Press reports Corker believes the delay is the result of an appeal made by the UAW to the National Labor Relations Board, citing the senator’s comments and those of outside anti-union interests as the chief causes in the election’s failure. He also dismissed the idea VW would decide to build the new SUV in either Tennessee or Mexico no matter the election’s outcome:
There is no way I’d put out a statement like I put out unless I was 1,000% that it was accurate in every way.
Meanwhile, VW is moving forward with a plan to install a works council in the Tennessee plant, though where the automaker may build its next U.S. plant depends on the success of the campaign. VW Global Works Council head Bernd Osterloh warned that the “massive antiunion atmosphere” surrounding Chattanooga could prompt the company to take their ball out of the South should future expansion be considered.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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We would welcome a VW plant in Minnesota, union or no union. http://www.minnpost.com/political-agenda/2014/02/minnesota-officials-volkswagen-after-tennessee-trouble-come-iron-range
The German auto workers must have realised that dealing with the UAW spelt trouble. Now the German auto workers are trying to influence an outcome. If VW moves out of the US, would they stay or go to Mexico?
The VW plant in Puebla is immense. Brendan McAleer visited it and wrote this: http://driving.ca/volkswagen/auto-news/news/volkswagen-is-hometown-hero-in-huge-mexican-city/ Don't believe it is unionized.
TBH VW should just close up shop and move the production back to Mexico where labor is cheap and the locals actually like VW cars unlike here where no matter what they do they will not increase their market share since people here tend to favor reliable appliances and not complex and unreliable German machines.