The United Auto Workers union celebrated a significant win in a closely watched election to represent 4,300 hourly workers at Volkswagen's plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The union declared victory late Friday night, marking a breakthrough in its efforts to organize workers at non-union auto plants nationwide.
The National Labor Relations Board is in the process of counting votes, with 73% of the votes counted so far in favor of the union, ensuring its victory. This outcome is seen as a pivotal moment by workers, with one employee expressing readiness for a better life through union representation.
Currently, there are approximately 150,000 workers at nonunion auto plants in the United States, a number comparable to the unionized automakers like General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis. The UAW's success in representing workers at nonunion plants could enhance their bargaining power in future contract negotiations.
This victory also serves as a significant milestone for unions in Southern states, where union representation among workers is notably lower compared to Northern industrial states. The UAW plans to extend its efforts to represent workers at other foreign automakers with American plants, including BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, and Volvo.
The union has already initiated the process for an election at the Mercedes plant in Vance, Alabama, with the vote scheduled for next month. Additionally, the UAW aims to represent workers at American automakers producing electric vehicles such as Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid.
Unlike typical anti-union campaigns by employers during organizing efforts, Volkswagen remained neutral in this election. The UAW's organizing endeavors come after a successful six-week strike against the three unionized automakers last fall, resulting in record pay increases for UAW members.
Workers at nonunion auto plants, including Volkswagen, have seen similar pay raises following the UAW contracts. However, employees at nonunion plants generally earn less than those at unionized automakers. For instance, the average worker at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant earns around $60,000 annually before bonuses and benefits.
Under the recent UAW contract, production workers now receive approximately $36 per hour, translating to about $75,000 annually before overtime, bonuses, and benefits.
