Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join the United Auto Workers union, marking a significant victory for the union as it sets its sights on organizing Tesla. This success comes after two unsuccessful attempts by the UAW in Chattanooga in recent years, signaling a turning point for the 89-year-old union. The final tally of the votes, conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, showed 73% in favor of unionizing.
Following a 46-day strike last year that resulted in favorable contracts for UAW members, President Shawn Fain expressed that the union is just beginning its efforts. The UAW is now actively encouraging non-union auto workers to sign union cards, targeting around 150,000 US auto workers across 13 companies, including Tesla.
This victory at Volkswagen is historic as it marks the UAW's first successful organizing campaign at a foreign car company in the South. The UAW is now gearing up for another unionization vote at Mercedes-Benz's factory in Alabama next month, as it continues its expansion in the region.
The ultimate goal for the UAW is to organize Tesla, a company that has never held a union vote at its US facilities. Previous attempts by the UAW at Tesla were hindered by an anti-union culture and rhetoric from CEO Elon Musk. However, with recent momentum from successful campaigns at other automakers, the UAW is eyeing Tesla as its next target.
Tesla, facing challenges such as declining deliveries and reduced profit margins, has already increased wages for its factory workers in response to the UAW's activities. This move is seen as an attempt to dissuade interest in unionization among Tesla employees. Additionally, Tesla is currently embroiled in a dispute with striking mechanics in Sweden, adding to its list of challenges.
