Volkswagen Denies UAW's Request For Sole Representation

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Volkswagen announced Thursday it would deny the UAW’s request to be the sole representative of the automaker’s Chattanooga, Tenn. plant.

Instead, VW would continue to work with both the UAW and rival organization American Council of Employees toward the goal of establishing a works council at its sole U.S. facility, Bloomberg reports.

While the company said meeting with both factions “has been a very effective way to start dialog with each of the groups,” UAW secretary-treasurer Gary Casteel proclaimed VW should recognize his union “as the bargaining agent,” adding “a works council can only exist with a union and VW has said their preferred union is the UAW.”

The UAW is said to represent 55 percent of hourly workers on the floor, while ACE has between 15 to 30 percent of hourly and salaried employees.

[Photo credit: Volkswagen]

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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 15 comments
  • Chan Chan on May 08, 2015

    How many times has UAW tried to take over VW's US manufacturing? They should be glad they are even getting the opportunity for union representation. VW doesn't seem to be the pushover that the Big 3 are, especially with knowledge of how the UAW operates.

    • RobertRyan RobertRyan on May 08, 2015

      UAW is going nowhere with this as VW will not budge, Take up the offer given

  • Tonycd Tonycd on May 08, 2015

    Chan, in the unlikely event that you wanted to know, look into the recent history of Chattanooga plant. You'll find interference with UAW organizing efforts, arguably illegal, by Tennessee politicians bent on keeping the UAW out for political reasons. That interference included a thinly veiled threat to choke off future job growth at the plant if the workers chose the UAW as its representative. It was against this backdrop that the workers "freely chose" against the UAW, by a narrow margin. The UAW itself was far from the most questionable "operator" in this chain of events.

    • See 7 previous
    • 28-Cars-Later 28-Cars-Later on May 09, 2015

      @Dave M. NAFTA, GATT, and the later WTO -all of which allowed for US mfg jobs to be exported- came into effect Jan 1 1994, Jan 1 1948, and Jan 1 1995 respectfully. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Free_Trade_Agreement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Agreement_on_Tariffs_and_Trade

  • Jpolicke Jpolicke on May 08, 2015

    How can the UAW claim to represent 55% of the workforce when they lost the last election?

  • Big Al from Oz Big Al from Oz on May 08, 2015

    I do think the UAW has wasted massive money that the existing rank and file payed into the UAW tax on workers. Instead of trying to expand, the UAW must fix existing problems it has with it's current members. There is great disparity within the rank and file. The egalitarian union socialist paradigm doesn't exist. The UAW has created a very class structured membership. Like all great socialist experiments, the aim of the Socialist movement was based on workers. Who benefits the most from the UAW? $10 ph American Axle workers living on food stamps? They have done well the UAW leadership. The UAW leaders have created an empire that isn't a necessity for a company or worker to work within. The UAW will continue to falter until it atones it's pre-existing problems of yore. But they are Luddites and live on the past with little scope to improve the future of the rank and file. UAW leaders place themselves first, the Union second and the rank and file last. Is this good for VW workers? Why would you want to invest money into this?

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