Over 1,000 VW workers sign union cards with UAW

Tennessee Volkswagen workers are clamoring for unionization, says the United Auto Workers.

According to a Thursday statement from the union, over 1,000 employees at VW’s Chattanooga factory have signed union cards with the UAW, a major victory in its quest to organize workers at nonunion automakers.

According to the union, workers at the Tennessee plant have long complained about mistreatment by management, long working hours and substandard pay.

If the factory does end up signing with the UAW, it would be the first VW plant in the U.S. to do so. The factory employs around 3,800 people and makes the Atlas brand of SUVs and some of VW’s electric cars.

The UAW says it plans to hold union elections when at least 70% of workers have signed cards.

The news of substantial support for unionization at VW comes after the UAW launched its nationwide effort to unionize dozens of nonorganized factories. While victories have been slow going, the union has reported that thousands of workers from around the country have gone to the union’s website to sign union cards.

The union hopes workers will take notice of the massive contracts it won for members at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis and vote to unionize. The union tried to organize nonunion shops before but had little to no success.  

VW and other nonunion automakers in the U.S. have taken steps to dissuade their workers from organizing. Last month, VW gave its workers in the Chattanooga plant an 11% raise. Toyota, Hyundai and Honda also announced raises.