Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Weekend Contributor
Last week, Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee “ramped up his anti-union rhetoric” in hopes of persuading workers at Volkswagen AG’s plant in Chattanooga to vote against representation by the United Auto Workers. According to Reuters, on February 12th, Corker said he had been “assured” that if workers at the Volkswagen plant in his hometown rejected representation by UAW, the company would “reward the plant with a new product to build.” Bernie Woodall of Reuters said that Corker dropped that “bombshell” on the “first of a three-day secret ballot election of blue-collar workers” at the Chattanooga plant. The most troubling part—as I see it—is that Corker’s claim actually ran “counter to public statements by Volkswagen…”
The following day, Corker said that he was “very certain that if the UAW is voted down,” the automaker would announce new investment in the plant “in the next couple weeks.” It seems Corker hadn’t heard—or chose to ignore—a statement made earlier by Frank Fischer, chief executive of VW Chattanooga, “that there was ‘no connection’ between the vote at its three-year-old Tennessee plant and a looming decision on whether VW will build a new crossover vehicle there or in Mexico.”
Volkswagen officials acknowledged “their desire for a works council, arguing that their model of labor-management relations serves them well in every other country in the world, except China.” Under U.S. law, however, the company would not be able to “set up a works council without first having its employees vote for a union.”
The UAW “was dealt a stinging defeat” when a majority of employees at the Chattanooga facility voted against joining the union “after a high-profile opposition campaign led by Republican politicians and outside political groups.” According to the Washington Post, the auto union’s loss “came in spite of an unprecedented level of support from the company being organized.” Fischer who had actually “encouraged the idea of starting a German-style ‘works council’ at the plant, like those in place at Volkswagen’s other factories'” apparently was “saddened by the outcome.”
Fisher speaking after the union vote (Washington Post):
“Our employees have not made a decision that they are against a works council. Throughout this process, we found great enthusiasm for the idea of an American-style works council both inside and outside our plant,” Fischer said, reading from a statement. “Our goal continues to be to determine the best method for establishing a works council in accordance with the requirements of U.S. labor law to meet VW America’s production needs and serve our employees’ interests.”
Gary Casteel, organizer for the UAW’s Southern Region, said, “Unfortunately, politically motivated third parties threatened the economic future of this facility and the opportunity for workers to create a successful operating model that would grow jobs in Tennessee.”
Casteel was making reference to anti-union remarks made by “Tennessee’s Republican lawmakers, who threatened to withhold tax incentives from Volkswagen if the workers unionized, and attention from D.C.-based activist Grover Norquist.” UAW officials said they noticed that workers began “to turn against the union as they started hearing ‘threats and intimidation’ against the company.”
It appears that the Chattanooga auto workers may have made a big mistake when they rejected UAW membership last week. According to Huffington Post, theirs is the only “Volkswagen plant worldwide without a formal mechanism for workers’ representation.”
Huffington Post:
The German “co-determination” model mandates works councils, which connect employees to management, at all large German companies. Following the union vote, the head of Volkswagen’s works council told German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung that the automaker would hesitate to expand in the U.S. South.
“I can imagine fairly well that another VW factory in the United States, provided that one more should still be set up there, does not necessarily have to be assigned to the South again,” said works council leader Bernd Osterloh.
“If co-determination isn’t guaranteed in the first place, we as workers will hardly be able to vote in favor” of building another plant in the right-to-work South, Osterloh added.
UAW chief says Bob Corker intimidated workers at Chattanooga Volkswagen plant
Now, thanks to Senator Bob Corker and others who spoke out against UAW representation for workers at the Chattanooga Volkswagen plant it looks like the company probably won’t be rewarding the facility with any “new product” manufacturing there…or anywhere else in the “right-to-work South.”
SOURCES
Turns Out Anti-Union Volkswagen Workers May Have Screwed Themselves And The South (Huffington Post)
As Volkswagen workers vote, Tennessee senator ramps up anti-union talk (Reuters)
VW workers may block southern U.S. deals if no unions: labor chief (Reuters)
U.S. senator drops bombshell during VW plant union vote (Reuters)
Auto union loses historic election at Volkswagen plant in Tennessee (Washington Post)
All eyes on Chattanooga: VW’s workers are deciding the future of unions in the South (Washington Post)
Intimidating VW Workers Could Come Back to Haunt Republican Pols
By Ed Kilgore
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_02/intimidating_vw_workers_could049136.php
Excerpt:
I’m sure most Republicans don’t consider Osterloh a legitimate representative of VW management, which has had this socialistic “co-determination” system foisted upon it by socialistic Big Government in Germany (known to U.S. conservatives in other contexts, of course, as the heroic champions of public-sector austerity). But the fact remains that Bob Corker and other noisy opponents of UAW representation of VW workers in Tennessee used the argument that VW would surely send any new work somewhere else if the union was approved to great effect in the runup to last week’s election. It would be richly ironic if that argument turned out to be off by 180 degrees.
Aside from the specifics of VW, this development is a reminder that employers actually care about some things other than minimizing business costs. If politicians insist on giving them subsidies and freedom from regulations and reducing the bargaining power of their workers, they may gladly pocket such concessions. But the idea that screwing workers and the public are the only path to economic development isn’t at all irrefutable outside the fever swamps of those avidly pursuing a race to the bottom.
Dredd, VW is a progressive company. They have work councils in all their plants w/ a very cooperative environment between employees and management. So, the UAW could not paint this company as evil. This Neutrality Agreement was what swayed the more independent employees to vote against the UAW. Dem employees are pretty much pro union. Rep employees are pretty much anti union. Again, like in political elections, independents were decisive. Volkswagen provided NO OPPOSITION to this vote. The UAW apparently couldn’t sign a Neutrality Agreement w/ Corker.
Dr. Harris,
Your comments may be very relevant and important, but I am unable understand what point you are trying to make.
I’ve worked in a specialized field all my adult life and when speaking or writing about it I do my best to never use jargon or phrases that are unique to that field of interest.
……………………………………………………..
It does seem to me that the GOP uses fear and divisive social issues to appeal to their base. That along with voter suppression and gerrymandering keep many of them in office.
nick spinelli
The fat cat union bosses signed a “neutrality” agreement w/ Volkswagen prior to the vote. The agreement meant the company would not, and did not, oppose the vote. This was done because these union leaders are desperate to keep their lobbyist lifestyle and routinely sell out their members in order to get new fees, continuing their opulent lifestyle on the backs of blue collar men and women. So, if the union had been agreed upon via the vote it would have been toothless, which is why the company GLADLY signed on to this member backstabbing contract. This was not a Norma Rae moment folks.
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That is for union members to clean up, or the congress.
But throwing the vote with unlawful influence is not justified.
It is like justifying throwing a congressional election with illegal influence because the person running for office is a pig.
Have some Scrapple and eggs.
Thanks Nick. It must be too early. My mind hasn’t kicked in yet.
He doesn’t like Corker, Justin. This is actually a brief comment by Dr. Harris.
Will someone please break that down into human terms and explain to me what he just said.
In a life now approaching three quarters of a century since being born, I have never been able to observe a meaningful correlation between the strength of sincerity whereby a belief is held and the accuracy of the held belief.
Sincerity is not truthfulness
Correlation is not causality.
While yet in high school, I had observed that the social construction of reality may be veritably uncorrelated with scientifically observable, objective reality.
That led me to ponder whether the essence of the then-contemporary, allegedly non-anomic social-contract-defined apparently-consensus-based mental modeling of reality might be other than an exercise of adamant ignorance and intransigent stupidity.
Senator Corker’s conduct has only strengthened my tragic sense of adamant ignorance and intransigent stupidity as the possible essence of social contract phenomena.
J. Brian Harris, well put. If I’m correct in you assertion, that places a dilemma upon individuals participating in any socially motivated group setting where decisions are thought to be necessary. Example, how do we conclude a trial by jury or other decisions we find necessary or desirable? I ponder this along with you, not in argument against. At the hopeful 61% point in my life, it is obvious to me, that social dynamics and especially group decision making leaves much to be desired. The problems of democracy, i.e. plurality voting on what rights should be preserved and what rights should be acquiesced for the common good, coupled with human consciousness, awareness, intelligence/ignorance, greed, education, etc. does not lend well for the desired results. I keep waiting for a new awakening, another so-called age of enlightenment, but I’m running out of steam, both intellectually and emotionally. Elected representation to me has even had worse results then what has happened with direct democracies. Too many people, for a variety of reasons, as noted above, appear to vote for what is in their own self interests rather than the common good, and the elected representation is perhaps even worse at this, preferring to advance the desires of special interests.
To me politics is an arena that we believe will help to mitigate our differences and provide solutions to achieve a greater level of justice. Assuming justice includes the protection of individual and property rights. I keep coming up with the same dilemma, we must give up rights and property to protect them which is life, but as soon as group decision making using political means enters the fray, keeping that functioning takes more effort and time than it is worth. People are better off just mitigating their differences themselves and thus bypassing all the political elements. Having to take the time and effort to participate in the political system, support justice and maintain our individual lives is just to much for the average person to handle. So let’s elect representatives?
The fat cat union bosses signed a “neutrality” agreement w/ Volkswagen prior to the vote. The agreement meant the company would not, and did not, oppose the vote. This was done because these union leaders are desperate to keep their lobbyist lifestyle and routinely sell out their members in order to get new fees, continuing their opulent lifestyle on the backs of blue collar men and women. So, if the union had been agreed upon via the vote it would have been toothless, which is why the company GLADLY signed on to this member backstabbing contract. This was not a Norma Rae moment folks.
Politicians don’t do what their supposed to and do what their not supposed to do. They just can’t keep out of the personal affairs of people or business. A publicity stunt. Probably thousands of people are involved with this dispute and he has to stick his nose in oh wise and arrogant one. Sometimes unions are necessary to gain reasonable working conditions, but they so often do not truly consider the plight of the company. The auto industry is a highly competitive arena in an already hostile socio-economic environment. The workers, being more numerous, as a much larger percentage to management, have a tendency to vote themselves benefits that the market cannot endure. The employee/employer relationship is always a difficult one, so I hope it works out for everyone. Many side with labor in such disputes but there are a lot of unemployed managers out there today.
Those damn workers don’t know what’s good for them. Really? You make it should like Corker was pulling the lever for the workers. Get over it.
It gets worse, and it’s not just Bob Corker. SC governor Nikki Haley stated she did not want any big companies coming to South Carolina if they were unionized. Not even if they created hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs. I get the distinct idea these folks fear unions are catching, like cooties. Their poor constituents might get the notion that getting a living wage, benefits, and job stability may trump the snake oil ideology Republicans are selling.
Laura Clawson at Daily Kos picks up the story and does a scathing analysis: Nikki Haley doesn’t want any dirty union car companies in South Carolina
I was raised in a union household. I support unions; I don’t support THUGGERY. As for the situation at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee, I’m concerned that because the vote was so close that it will create dissension among the rank and file. Unions do not enjoy a glowing reputation for very good reasons.
Tennessee! Tennessee! Aint no place I’d rather be!
Carry me back to Tenn e seeee!
Back to Tennesse/
-VW Mogel, Klaus Fuch
“Every other country but China”. That sure makes us look intelligent. Germany is doing well, their workers seem happy with their unionized work places. Why is the right so entrenched in their ideology that they would ruin it for workers and company who actualy could agree on a union presence? It appears that those on the right dare not allow the worker to get a foothold, because who knows, maybe the middle class would see a resurgence. Their desire for only two classes is exceedingly evident.
So you have 49% of the workers who aren’t satisfied, and 51% that are willing to keep going as is.
And a lot of the people posting are glad the plant won’t be represented by the ‘corrupt’ UAW.
The irony here is just TOO much….
Ayn Rand GOP theology is not what VW seems to prefer. Talk about a banana republic: the only “Volkswagen plant worldwide without a formal mechanism for workers’ representation.” What’s even more disturbing is that workers voted against their best interests. Reminds me of Thomas Frank’s book, What’s the Matter with Kansas, which shows how GOP instill fear and hyperbole into hot button issues. Be that issue abortion, guns, gays, or God, and in this case unions. Fear is the enemy of the good and the GOP has mastered fear to perfection, but the rational people at VW don’t buy it and that’s good.
UAW Asks Labor Board For New Volkswagen Election, Citing ‘Threats’ By GOP Lawmakers
By Dave Jamieson
Posted: 02/21/2014
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/21/uaw-election-tennessee_n_4833270.html
Excerpt:
WASHINGTON — After a narrow and devastating loss at the Chattanooga Volkswagen plant last week, the United Auto Workers union has asked the federal labor board to set aside the election results because of “a firestorm of interference” from outside groups and politicians, including Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn).
The union submitted its appeal to the National Labor Relations Board on Friday, according to a UAW press release. Labor board officials will now have to consider whether the statements by lawmakers interfered enough to potentially sway votes and taint the election. The board could essentially order a do-over.
In its 13-page appeal, the UAW said that “threats” made by Tennessee lawmakers were “clearly designed to influence the votes” of Volkswagen workers, who eventually voted 712-to-626 against UAW representation last week. The appeal cites Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam (R), state Senate Speaker Bo Watson (R) and Corker, among others.
“The campaign included publicly-announced and widely disseminated threats by elected officials that state-financed incentives would be withheld if workers exercised their protected right to form a union,” the union said in a statement.
Corker is into mob tactics rather than letting workers vote on their own without external low blows and dishonest trickery.
He should be sanctioned by a Senate ethics panel and the Tennesse voters in the next election.