Wecome to the Rust Belt: VW's Tennessee Plant Votes to Unionize

[Bill]

https://www.reuters.com/business/aut...ry-2024-04-20/

UAW wins big in historic union vote at Volkswagen Tennessee factory
By Nora Eckert
April 20, 20247:14 AM CDTUpdated 2 hours ago



CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, April 20 (Reuters) - Workers at Volkswagen's Tennessee plant have voted to join the United Auto Workers, in a seismic victory for the union as it drives beyond its Detroit base into the U.S. South and West.
A majority of eligible workers cast ballots in favor of the union, with the final tally on Friday at 2,628 to 985, or 73% for joining the UAW.
The landslide win will make the Chattanooga factory the first auto plant in the South to unionize via election since the 1940s and the first foreign-owned auto plant in the South to do so.
It is also a huge shot in the arm for UAW President Shawn Fain's campaign to unionize plants owned by more than a dozen automakers across the U.S., including Tesla (TSLA.O)
Fain, known for his aggressive bargaining tactics, and his team have committed to spending $40 million through 2026 on the effort.
Jubilant workers, some in tears, raised their arms in victory and held aloft "Union Yes" posters as the final tally came in.
"I'm exhilarated that we actually accomplished what we set out to accomplish," said VW employee Lisa Elliott as she hugged her coworkers. "Tell Mercedes they’re next," she cheered.

plant in Alabama, at which a majority of workers have signed cards indicating they support unionization, will be the next facility to hold a UAW election, during the week of May 13.
"You all have just done the most important thing a working class person can do, and that is stand up," Fain told workers at the count watch party.
"You guys will lead the way. We will carry this fight on to Mercedes and everywhere else," he added.
Although the UAW narrowly lost votes at the same plant in 2014 and 2019, this year's vote was preceded by surging public support for unions and successful contract negotiations last year with the Big Three automakers.
"The margin is overwhelming," said Harley Shaiken, professor of labor at the University of California, Berkeley. "This is a historic moment."
VW took a neutral position on the vote at its only non-union factory globally. The UAW has previously represented VW workers at a Pennsylvania plant that built Rabbit cars before it closed in 1988.
The UAW - which has seen its membership fall as Detroit automakers restructured - has for decades struck out at southern auto plants, where anti-union sentiment has long been entrenched. Earlier this week Republican governors in six southern states including Tennessee spoke out in opposition to the union drive.
In addition to the two narrow losses at VW previously, the UAW sustained three more significant misses at southern factories owned by Nissan (7201.T)
, opens new tab, the last in 2017 in Mississippi.
But the broader labor movement has since gone through somewhat of a renaissance, with a record number of workers across various industries going on strike last year.
Last autumn U.S. President Joe Biden walked picket lines outside Detroit, where the union scored double-digit percentage raises as well as cost-of-living increases from General Motors (GM.N)

Biden rebuked the Republican governors after the vote, citing several union victories in recent months.
"These union wins have helped raise wages and demonstrate once again that the middle-class built America and that unions are still building and expanding the middle class for all workers," he said in a statement.
In addition to the Mercedes plant, the UAW has said that more than 30% of employees at a Hyundai (005380.KS)

Pro-union workers at the VW plant say they have campaigned to secure improved safety on the job, better work-life balance and improved benefits.
"Now that it’s official I can relax," said Robert Crump, who has worked at VW for 12 years, and voted yes in all three union elections. "It’s a really good feeling."

[vettemed]

Doesn't bode well.

[Swany00]

there will likely be more layoffs

[Wathen1955]

and shitty cars assembled by union workers.

[Louie Detroit]

I can’t wait to see the look on the yoonyun slugs faces when VW relocates the plant to Mexico.

[Tikiman]

Originally Posted by Louie Detroit

I can’t wait to see the look on the yoonyun slugs faces when VW relocates the plant to Mexico.

I will laugh my ass off when that happens. Yoonyuns had their place at one time. Now, they are the death knell for whatever industry is involved.

[ratflinger]

VW wanted the union, they've been pushing for it for several years. It fits better with the company structure since they are used to dealing with unions in Germany anyway. It was the locals that didn't want it, guess they got a bunch of turds from the north hired on.

[jw38]

Fuck unions. Goodby VW.

[Louie Detroit]

Originally Posted by ratflinger

VW wanted the union, they've been pushing for it for several years. It fits better with the company structure since they are used to dealing with unions in Germany anyway. It was the locals that didn't want it, guess they got a bunch of turds from the north hired on.

The slugs saw the recent generous contracts the Big 3 United Against Work members received and probably busted their collective nut.

[GTOguy]

Originally Posted by Louie Detroit

I can’t wait to see the look on the yoonyun slugs faces when VW relocates the plant to Mexico.

That's exactly what happened here a few years ago with Hershey's Chocolate. Pulled up stakes in Oakdale, CA and went to Mexico for cheap labor. A shit-ton of people lost decent jobs.
They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Well, sometimes, it gets replaced.

Is Tennessee really in the rust belt? I never thought of it that way.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by GTOguy

That's exactly what happened here a few years ago with Hershey's Chocolate. Pulled up stakes in Oakdale, CA and went to Mexico for cheap labor. A shit-ton of people lost decent jobs.
They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Well, sometimes, it gets replaced.

Is Tennessee really in the rust belt? I never thought of it that way.

Read the headline again. It said "Welcome to the Rust Belt."

Thread title inspiration:

YouTube

also acceptable:

YouTube

YouTube

[GTOguy]

Axle Rose: arguably the biggest douchebag in the history of rock and roll.

[vettemed]

Originally Posted by GTOguy

Axle Rose: arguably the biggest douchebag in the history of rock and roll.

It's Axl.

And I would argue Vince Neil was a bigger asshole for killing a dude while DUI.

[ratflinger]

Originally Posted by vettemed

It's Axl.

And I would argue Vince Neil was a bigger asshole for killing a dude while DUI.

Wow - Vince Neil was AF2!!!

[Anjdog2003]

Originally Posted by GTOguy

Axle Rose: arguably the biggest PUNK/ douchebag in the history of rock and roll.

[Frankie the Fink]

NOTHING like the real "Rust Belt"; areas like Pittsburgh and Bethlehem, PA and sites in Ohio. Steel plants abandoned, rusting away, spanning 10's of acres and livelihoods lost and financial ruin for many...

[LATB]

Originally Posted by Louie Detroit

I can’t wait to see the look on the yoonyun slugs faces when VW relocates the plant to Mexico.

Probably won’t happen because it appears that VW wants the union and you know that the TN politicians will not want to give up the tax revenue.
Idiot politicians don’t realize that this is a step towards making TN blue.

[Yadkin]

I learned to hate unions from my grandfather. Because of his great work ethic, he was one of the last employees at a company that finally went belly-up during the Great Depression. Then, he went to work for their competitor the next day, and stayed with them until he was in his early 80's.

If that had been union jobs, he would have been unemployed.

[GTOguy]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

I learned to hate unions from my grandfather. Because of his great work ethic, he was one of the last employees at a company that finally went belly-up during the Great Depression. Then, he went to work for their competitor the next day, and stayed with them until he was in his early 80's.

If that had been union jobs, he would have been unemployed.

The cool think about you is that you are as square as your grandfather.
I am as square as mine was, too. Too bad 3 of his 4 kids ended up as screaming, outraged liberals. I'd give a lot to spend an afternoon with him again. He's been gone since 1975.

[Millenium Vette]

Does Westmoreland ring a bell?

It's deja vu all over again.