UAW Proposing Works Council At VW Tennessee Plant 'Soon'
Now that the United Auto Workers have won full access to Volkswagen’s Chattanooga, Tenn. factory under VW’s community engagement policy, what will it do with its newfound power? Propose a works council, of course.
Automotive News reports the UAW would make the proposal “soon,” with an initiative planned to train those at its Local 42 “on Volkswagen’s unique style of labor-management relations… creating something new and doing it in a collaborative relationship with the global group works council,” per regional director Ray Curry.
Further down the road, secretary-treasurer Gary Casteel said the union would make its ultimate push toward representation of the 1,500 employees at the facility, though the policy prohibits collective bargaining by recognized groups on behalf of said employees.
As to how the UAW would accomplish this, Casteel — who didn’t say how many employees were members of Local 42 — said the union didn’t have a clear idea, but ruled out another election — like the one it lost earlier in 2014 — or conducting a card check.
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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The sooner VW pulls out of NA, the sooner these Chattanooga stories go away. Buycott VW! Oh, heh... redundant.
How many "works councils" does the UAW run? It seems that VW--the one who wanted the works council in the first place to match their other facilities--would be the better one to train employees on how the system works. Furthermore, I find it problematic that the UAW admits that they have no interest in actually running the works council as it's intended: "Further down the road, secretary-treasurer Gary Casteel said the union would make its ultimate push toward representation of the 1,500 employees at the facility, though the policy prohibits collective bargaining by recognized groups on behalf of said employees." While I'm not a supporter of unions, I'm also not anti-union. However, I am anti-UAW because their actions scream that they care for neither their members nor their employers. The UAW cares only for the income generated by members' dues. I (and likely many others) would have a more positive opinion of them if they could at least pretend that they want the works council concept to be successful rather than using it as a stepping stool to their real intentions.
A few questions for those who may know: 1) Are current Chatanooga employees permitted to join Local 42 of the UAW? 2) If so, are they paying dues? 3) What benefits would this membership convey?
"1) Are current Chatanooga employees permitted to join Local 42 of the UAW? 2) If so, are they paying dues? 3) What benefits would this membership convey?" Inquiring minds want to know! Where is John Lewis when you need him? My guess is that: 1)Current employees are permitted to join. They're: To those of us who know the pain Of valentines that never came And those whose name was never called When choosing sides at basketball 2) Yes. 3)None. But, who knows? Maybe the resident commies know better. They tend to follow these things.