Obama weighs in on contentious union vote at Volkswagen plant
(Reuters) - P resident Barack Obama on Friday waded into a high-stakes union vote at Volkswagen AG's plant in Tennessee, accusing Republican politicians who oppose unionization of being more concerned about German shareholders than U.S. workers.
Obama's comments, made
at a closed-door meeting of Democratic lawmakers in Maryland, came as
the vote to allow union representation at the Chattanooga plant drew to a
close.
Obama said everyone was in favor of the UAW
representing Volkswagen except for local politicians who "are more
concerned about German shareholders than American workers," according to
a Democratic aide who attended the meeting with Democratic lawmakers in
the House of Representatives.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/15/us-autos-vw-election-idUSBREA1D1DP20140215
Loss at Volkswagen plant upends union's plan for U.S. South
(Reuters) - In a
stinging defeat that could accelerate the decades-long decline of the
United Auto Workers, Volkswagen AG workers voted against union
representation at a Chattanooga, Tennessee plant, which had been seen as
organized labor's best chance to expand in the U.S. South.
The loss, 712 to 626, capped a sprint finish to a long race and was particularly surprising for UAW supporters, because Volkswagen had allowed the union access to the factory and officially stayed neutral on the vote, while other manufacturers have been hostile to organized labor.
UAW spent more than two years organizing and then called a snap election in an agreement with VW. German union IG Metall worked with the UAW to pressure VW to open its doors to organizers, but anti-union forces dropped a bombshell after the first of three days of voting.
Republican U.S. Senator Bob Corker, the former mayor of Chattanooga who helped win the VW plant, said on Wednesday after the first day of voting that VW would expand the factory if the union was rejected.
The loss, 712 to 626, capped a sprint finish to a long race and was particularly surprising for UAW supporters, because Volkswagen had allowed the union access to the factory and officially stayed neutral on the vote, while other manufacturers have been hostile to organized labor.
UAW spent more than two years organizing and then called a snap election in an agreement with VW. German union IG Metall worked with the UAW to pressure VW to open its doors to organizers, but anti-union forces dropped a bombshell after the first of three days of voting.
Republican U.S. Senator Bob Corker, the former mayor of Chattanooga who helped win the VW plant, said on Wednesday after the first day of voting that VW would expand the factory if the union was rejected.
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ReplyDeleteThe results were particularly surprising for UAW supporters because VW had allowed the union access to the factory and officially stayed neutral on the vote, while other manufacturers have been hostile to organized labor.
ReplyDeleteLocal anti-union organizer Mike Burton cheered the results. "Not on our watch," he exulted.
"We think it's unfortunate that there was some outside influence exerted into this process," a red-eyed Gary Casteel, regional director of the UAW, told reporters after the results were announced, adding that the process needed to be "evaluated".
"We felt like we were already being treated very well by Volkswagen in terms of pay and benefits and bonuses," said Sean Moss, who voted against the UAW. "We also looked at the track record of the UAW. Why buy a ticket on the Titanic?" he added.
ReplyDeleteWhat difference does it make Tennessee is a right to work state the union would have no real power anyway
ReplyDeleteIf the UAW wins in the south more foreign manufacturers would be sending future lines below the border to Mexico.
DeleteFace it, just look at Detroit, the UAW is a cancer.
Interesting viewpoint from half a world away. Organised Labour( Note spelling) seems to be in decline in both our countries. Only about 23 percent of workers are union members in Aust. However,the Political wing ,The Australian Labor (note spelling) party are the alternative government. It is in this area that there is sometimes confusion on threads such as this. We think of your Dems as Socialist leaning politicians and the Repubs are our Conservative(Liberals). Please be very careful in interpreting this post to note the spelling and context of Labo(u)r Cheers from Aust
ReplyDelete