Auto Union

Fresh off a great year for the United Autoworkers Union (UAW), which saw wins against the Detroit Big Three automakers, union president Shawn Fain set his sights on several other automakers across the American South. Volkswagen, which operates a factory and offices in Chattanooga, TN, was first. Its efforts were successful. Despite the most recent vote being the third attempt to organize workers there, the UAW’s efforts were finally awarded with a strong vote to unionize.

United Auto Workers union president Shawn Fain has not been shy about his desire to organize non-union auto factories in the United States, and a new report suggests he’s making headway. Automotive News reported that Volkswagen’s Chattanooga assembly plant will hold its third union election in mid-April, setting the stage for what could be another dramatic win for the popular leader.

United Auto Worker members don’t go completely without pay during a strike, but they’re certainly not getting their full salaries. Workers get a $500 per week stipend from the union, but that doesn’t go very far in today’s ultra-expensive world. Two Detroit-area businesses are looking to help stressed-out, cash-strapped UAW workers with unique discounts for recreational marijuana and visits to the gentleman’s club.

After weeks of speculation over whether the UAW and Big Three automakers would come to an agreement, we have our answer: They didn’t. Last night, the Union launched a strike against Ford, GM, and Chrysler/Stellantis, taking almost 13,000 workers off production lines and factory floors across the country.

Unvaccinated workers from General Motors’ CAMI Assembly Plant have been removed from the facility and forced into unpaid leave. The automaker had a deadline set for December 12th to have all employees vaccinated, with Unifor previously having urged the company to postpone the date. The Western world has seen a surge of citizens protesting vaccine mandates this year, with Canadian unions conducting more than a few of their own. Though several organizers have said they’re operating independently due to a shared belief that Unifor was offering insufficient support to members and was effectively siding with automakers.

Rare Rides has featured a DKW vehicle only once previously, in a little Brazilian-made version of the mass-market 3=6 wagon. Today’s DKW van also occasionally wore 3=6 badging, but was known as a Schnellaster or F89 L.