Volkswagen

Despite losing a close vote to unionize in an election marred by the Tennessee government's union-busting tactics, the United Auto Workers will come to Chattanooga anyway. Workers at the new plant will be represented by the Union and will work closely with Volkswagen as part of a 'works council.'

The United Automobile Workers union has decided to appeal the vote by workers at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga not to unionize. Filing with the National Labor Relations Board, the union claims outside interference did not allow for a free and just vote.

The New York Times has a piece about a fascinating development in Tennessee, where management in a privately owned auto company, a VW plant in Chattanooga, appears to be working cooperatively with the UAW to organize the plant. The wrinkle is that “outside agitators” are trying to block the union, which is pitting them against both sides — union and management, since the latter thinks organizing the workforce would be helpful.