The United Automobile Workers (UAW) union has filed federal labor charges against Volkswagen over what it claims are violations of U.S. labor laws at its Chattanooga plant.
The UAW claims that VW is making major changes without lawfully negotiating with the union.
Production employees will be offered a voluntary attrition program with benefits, severance packages, retirement options, and education programs in partnership with the State of Tennessee.
News of the federal charges comes after the automaker announced on Thursday that it was asking employees to voluntarily quit their jobs as the company switches to a two-shift production team.
The UAW said the move shows “a continuing trend of union-busting tactics by Volkswagen aimed at silencing American workers.”
The news of the investigations and competing allegations come at a bad time for the union as it campaigns to organize non-union auto plants around the country.
UAW President Shawn Fain said the following after filing the charges:
“Nearly a year ago, thousands of Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga voted to join the UAW, to win the respect and dignified life that union autoworkers at the Big Three have enjoyed for generations.
Since then, the company has failed to meet the basic standard at the bargaining table that 150,000 American autoworkers have won at Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.
Volkswagen is the second most profitable automaker in the world. On Tuesday, the company reported over $20 billion in profits in 2024. And on Wednesday, they announced their intention to cut a shift at their single American plant, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The NLRB’s ceritification of the vote makes Volkswagen Chattanooga the first foreign automaker in the Southeast to have UAW representation.
This is a company that makes 75% of their North American products in Mexico, paying highly exploited workers around $7 an hour to sell cars for tens of thousands of dollars in the US. They do this to avoid paying a living wage and drive a race to the bottom in the auto industry. It’s bad for workers everywhere.
And instead of coming to a fair agreement for their American autoworkers in Tennessee, Volkswagen is choosing to attack American auto jobs.
The UAW has notified the Trump Administration of Volkswagen’s unacceptable, anti-union, anti-worker, and anti-American conduct. It is no accident that they want to ram through a layoff in America in the days before expected auto tariffs take effect, as they profit from high exploitation labor in Mexico.
The 4,000 autoworkers in Chattanooga deserve better. America deserves better. And the UAW is going to fight like hell to deliver for Chattanooga, for Volkswagen autoworkers, and for the whole working class.”
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp released the following statement about VW’s shift model change and the UAW’s allegations:
“Unfortunately, we are already experiencing the negative impacts of the UAW’s presence in Hamilton County. In most communities where the UAW has gained a foothold, their lofty promises to employees have, in reality, led to job losses and dysfunction.”
The UAW was encouraging its members to participate in a 1:30pm rally at the automaker’s plant in Chattanooga on Thursday.
Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this developing story.
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