US Employment News
Union Voting Starts At Volkswagen Plant in Tennessee
Voting has started over unionizing at the only Volkswagen factory in the US in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Over 4,000 employees started voting this Wednesday, April 17, with results expected by week's end.
It marks a significant test for the UAW's expansion goals outside its traditional base.
Historically, the UAW has not managed to unionize any foreign-owned auto-manufacturing plants in the US.
It faces a challenge in Southern states where anti-union sentiments are strong and right-to-work laws prevail.
However, the UAW leadership is eager to leverage recent successes under President Shawn Fain's new direction.
It includes a landmark agreement with General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis that included a 25 percent pay rise over four years and improved benefits secured after a six-week strike.
This Volkswagen union drive is seen as a critical referendum on Fain’s strategy to empower workers and expand the union's influence across the southern automotive sector.
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