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)
See Marie, the culture has changed here. You have people embracing you. The facts are the male to female ratio here, is probably @ least 4-1. We need more women, more blue collar folks, more black, Hispanic, gay, etc. Your take on unions stifling hard work and excellence is @ the core of my disdain for teacher’s unions. That’s a major reason why I left teaching. I grew up in a blue collar union family. My old man saw the union go from being for the good workers to protecting the worst workers, creating a negative work environment. You, my old man, myself and millions of others have had the same experience, unions creating a mediocrity. One reason the Japanese auto industry came in the 70’s and have kicked our mediocre asses since. Again, welcome and join in any thread that hits your eye. You have a perspective much needed here.
raff, You keep forgetting corrupt Dem politicians being one of the main reasons. Criminals prey on their own people.
hskiprob,
the unions did not push Detroit into bankruptcy. They gave concessions on multiple occasions. Mismanagement and banks taking advantage of the city and its plight shouldn’t be blamed on the workers. Jobs being sent overseas were not caused by the workers. The management of many industries in Detroit sent jobs overseas to make a short term buck paying lower wages and the loss of jobs was an immense loss to the city.
Marie, I’ve been down that road too. It took 5 years to fight my case. It is very difficult to win a civil rights case. My daughter is an employment attorney, but she didn’t represent me, however she did refer me to some excellent lawyers, who took my case on contingency. I wish you much luck, stay strong. If there would’ve been a union, I wouldn’t have had to go down that road. You haven’t met a big bulldog lawyer until you’ve met an employer’s big lawfirm lawyer fighting for his client.
Elaine, thanks for posting the “Union Maid” song! It brings back bittersweet memories of singing it in the Capitol rotunda during the WI protests with some wonderful teacher and nurse friends.
Woody Guthrie Ludlow Massacre
Refers to the violent deaths of a number of people–ioncluding children–during an attack by the Colorado National Guard on a tent colony of 1,200 striking coal miners and their families inLudlow, Colorado on April 20, 1914
Elaine M. – an interesting debate. I hope things have changed since 1914. Will government still turn against their own people when people try to stand up to oppression by management in the work place? The answer; how many OWSers where arrested and harmed over the last several years during peaceful assemblies? As I keep saying, government has and always will be controlled by the ruling oligarchy. If people try to fight against a company, the government will be used against them, as they, the oligarchy cannot allow citizens to truly exercise “all” their rights because, it would limit the oligarchs ability to maintain control and political power and part of the power relies on favored corporations being very profitable.
I think unions are a wonderful thing when needed and a horrible thing when their powers force companies into bankruptcy or other negative situation to detriment to both community and company. I keep saying part of the blame is excessive taxation and regulation, but that’s seems to be discounted by many. To me the fight over money in a corporate environment, includes the cost of government, the cost of labor and the cost of capital and under this environment, guess who will almost always loose?
Pete Seeger & Arlo Guthrie – Union Maid (1988)
“Union Maid” is a union song written by Woody Guthrie in response to a request for a union song from a female point of view. Along with “Talking Union”, this song was one of the many pro-union songs written by Guthrie during his time as a member of the Almanac Singers.
Elaine,
Thanks, I did see the Haley comments and then read your link to them again. Just following the playbook.
Plus yogi Berra would be proud of you….
Annie,
It’s open season on people whom disagree with them….. I think someone already called the troll cartel moving to the Turley blog….
It’s déjà vu all over again. 🙂
MarieK,
I don’t care that they called me ignorant. Trust me, I don’t have a thin skin.
“You are…..” is setting a stage due to a visceral reaction. It’s not the beginning of a meaningful dialogue.
It’s assuming that they know what I am and what I’m thinking, too. Many people have told me what I was thinking or what I knew and not very many of them have been right.
*****
I guess we’ve had pretty much the same experience.
Marie, if one thinks that one has “freedom” in some work environments and that HR is your friend, well I have a bridge to sell them. The company will ALWAYS come down on the side of protecting itself, the employee will be gladly be discarded. In the case of teachers and nurses who are liscenced, that liscense can be held above their heads by unscrupulous employers, to intimidate an employee to do the employers bidding. A middle class was formed because of unionization. Why do we want to go backwards?
Only to clarify Annieofwi, I don’t remember praising HR or big business. I’m not a fan of these people and I’ve been just as victimized as you without union protection. I had to hire a civil right attorney against these people.
I’d rather be free to go beyond the call of duty for my self satisfaction in serving a member of the public and be completely unrecognized for it and even abused because the industry doesn’t think I should be in my profession because I’m a girl. To me it’s preferable than protection by the Union that will stop me from doing something outside of my scope. I’d rather be free to absorb as much training and experience that I can because I don’t have to wait in line because of union protocol.
We’re not coming from the same value judgement or belief systems. I’m not saying anyone is bad or has a bad idea or a wrong idea. It’s all about different choices.
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Elaine, I could care less about the good opinion other might have of me.
I don’t care that they called me ignorant. Trust me, I don’t have a thin skin.
“You are…..” is setting a stage due to a visceral reaction. It’s not the beginning of a meaningful dialogue.
It’s assuming that they know what I am and what I’m thinking, too. Many people have told me what I was thinking or what I knew and not very many of them have been right.
Elaine, I’d say most every woman who is of the liberal bent and is also a strong outspoken type on this blog has had certain rightist commenters attempt to marginalize them. We’re in great company.
MarieK,
I’ve been called worse things than “ignorant” on this blog because of my positions on some issues. There are people who have attempted to marginalize me. I believe the best way to counter such people’s attempts to discredit me is by making my case with facts and good reasoning.
Sorry FMLA, it’s been a long time since I’ve had to take it. After my mother’s heart attack and quadruple bypass, she needed home care. I was able to take all my vacation time (thank you union) and then use my FMLA time to care for her.
FLMA.
Well think Marie, how much worse it would’ve been for you if not for the FLA. I was fired for reporting to a state agency a demand by my employer, with the threat of discipline, to falsify a legal form that was documenting patient abuse. If I had been working in a unionized hospital, that would not have happened. How do you think a worker has been able to garner any benefits a all? It wouldn’t have happened except for the strength of unions.
Unions are really good for some people. I am keenly aware of how unfair non-unionized environments can be. Been there,done that, started the support group….
I work in a white male oriented profession and us diverse, women folk aren’t real welcomed. Everyday I hear some bigoted remark, unionized or not. These people don’t even know they they’re being offensive. So they really believe that they’re justified being abusive. I’m one of those who would benefit from the protections of unions.
I chose freedom over protection in all things. Others don’t. That’s their value judgement and I’m fine with it. Each to their own.
Elaine M.
“you are ignorant…….” .
When people start off things like that, they’re not trying to reason with you or explain their view point.
That’s a frantic attempt of marginalizing and discrediting a person. It’s being called in public and it’s the first response I ever received on this forum.
That’s not a mature way of expressing an opinion. That’s a smack.