United Auto Workers union achieves historic breakthrough – Technologist

With six months before the US presidential election, this is a major victory for the left. The United Auto Workers (UAW) automotive union has succeeded for the first time in unionizing a foreign manufacturer’s plant in one of the southern states of the United States. In fact, 2,628 Volkswagen employees, or 73% of those voting, approved the unionization of their plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The vote, spread over three days, ended on Friday, April 19. It was conducted by secret ballot under the federal supervision of the National Labor Relations Board. Participation reached 83%.

This ballot is part of a massive $40 million campaign aimed at unionizing the non-unionized factories of a dozen European and Asian automakers based in the southern US, as well as Tesla’s factories. The offensive was launched following the victorious strike led by new UAW boss Shawn Fain in fall 2023 against Detroit’s three historic automakers, the so-called Big Three (Ford, General Motors, Stellantis ex-Chrysler).

After securing cumulative pay rises of over 25% over four years, with hourly pay reaching $42 an hour, the UAW felt it had the wind in its sails. “When we return to the bargaining table in 2028 it won’t just be with the Big Three, but with the Big Five or Big Six,” Fain declared in November 2023. On Friday, April 19, the unionist saw his strategy vindicated “Tonight you all together have taken a giant, historic step,” said Fain, celebrating the Chattanooga victory. “Let’s get to it and go to work and win more for the working class of this nation.”

For months, the union has enjoyed the political support of Joe Biden. The Democratic president was on a picket line near Detroit – a first for a US president. Immediately after the vote closed on Friday, Biden sent his “congratulations to the workers at Volkswagen in Chattanooga,” saying he was “proud to stand with auto workers.”

Groundswell of activity

Biden, who prides himself on being the most pro-union president in the US, sees this as a groundswell. “Across the country, union members have logged major wins and large raises, including auto workers, actors, port workers, Teamsters, writers…” said Biden. The US president believes these victories ripple throughout the middle class. The re-election candidate lashed out at the Republican governors of the states concerned, accusing them of “undermining” the unionization process.

Indeed, six Republican governors from southern states (Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas) have expressed concern about the vote, which they believe threatens their states’ economic model of attractive wages, training and investment subsidies.

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