UAW Ends Fight For Organization Of Tennessee VW Plant

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

The Huffington Post reports the United Auto Workers has withdrawn its petition with the National Labor Resources Board challenging the results of the February 2014 election regarding organization of the workforce at Volkswagen’s plant in Chattanooga, Tenn.

UAW President Bob King said the decision to withdraw was made “in the best interests” of all parties involved, citing the “historically dysfunctional and complex process” such a challenge before the NLRB would entail. King added that resistance met by both Tennessee governor Bill Haslam and U.S. Senator Bob Corker regarding the union’s effort to subpoena the politicians also factored into the decision to stand down:

The UAW is ready to put February’s tainted election in the rearview mirror and instead focus on advocating for new jobs and economic investment in Chattanooga.

Though the challenge — which would have led to a new election at the factory had it been successful — has been withdrawn, King said the challenge did shed light on the election by “inform[ing] the public about the unprecedented interference by anti-labor politicians and third parties,” such as the number of documents gathered by Nashville, Tenn. CBS affiliate WTVF-TV linking Gov. Haslam’s administration to incentives made to VW for a new factory on the alleged stipulation that the Chattanooga plant remaining unorganized.

Had the UAW stood firm with their petition, the first hearing would have been held Monday.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

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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  • Kitzler Kitzler on Apr 22, 2014

    Could someone explain to me why a Work council would have to be part of the UAW, why could it not join another union, or just be an independent entity?

    • See 1 previous
    • Geeber Geeber on Apr 22, 2014

      The Wagner Act banned what were known as "company unions," as they weren't truly independent entities. It's my understanding that a works council not affiliated with an independent union would be deemed a company union, and thus illegal under the Wagner Act.

  • Kitzler Kitzler on Apr 22, 2014

    How can you call the NRLB a kangaroo court, look at all the crap they dished to Boeing when Laffe was at the helm! Boeing had to bring work back to Seattle to appease it and its machinists.

    • Landcrusher Landcrusher on Apr 22, 2014

      I believe from the context we can tell he meant that they are not the sort of court that follows any sort of standards. Instead they just do what it takes to get the result they desire. I understand one meaning of the term is a court with no power, but that's not what was intended. On the other hand, I supposedly have very poor reading comprehension skills because I don't always get the obvious and desirable conclusions from a set of words according to our progressive friends here.

  • Mvlbr Mvlbr on Apr 23, 2014

    Union or no union that plant was doomed from the get go and it doesn't matter since consumers here have already spoken with their wallets. People here tend to like practical and reliable which VW is not known for.

  • Dave M. Dave M. on Apr 23, 2014

    About Barone: "He is a lawyer with degrees from Harverd and Yale." Rick Cruz went to Harvard and is crushing Texas with vast stupidity. Shrub went to Yale and we know his history. Impress me with something that actually impresses me.

    • See 12 previous
    • U mad scientist U mad scientist on Apr 23, 2014

      @Landcrusher > The bottom line is that there is functionally no difference between liberal academics selling an agenda of global warning and a conservative lawyer pushing his own agenda. They both have fancy degrees, work for pay and fame, and are fallible. It doesn't need to be made more clear that many americans lack the most basic math or science education to discern there exists objective right or wrong. The only curiosity here is far this mental relativism can be pushed. Statist educators teaching our kids socialist arithmetic? Liberal physics denying divine creation?

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