Volkswagen Chattanooga Workers Plan Strike Vote Amid Labor Disputes

Volkswagen Workers in Chattanooga Prepare for Strike Authorization Vote

Chattanooga, TN – Over a year of challenging negotiations has led Volkswagen employees at the Chattanooga, Tennessee plant to schedule a strike authorization vote on October 28 and 29.

This decision follows numerous accusations of unfair labor practices by the company, including allegations of negotiating in bad faith, engaging in unlawful intimidation, and making unilateral job cuts at Volkswagen's sole U.S. assembly facility.

Volkswagen's financial performance in 2024 saw profits soaring to $20.6 billion, with North America contributing 20 percent to these earnings. Given this substantial profit margin, workers argue that the company can feasibly negotiate a union contract that recognizes the efforts of its Chattanooga workforce.

“I don’t want to strike, but if it comes to it, I will,” expressed Mitchell Harris, a Volkswagen employee. “Because I feel that all my brothers and sisters of UAW Local 42 deserve respect, to provide a better life for their families, and have job security for us and generations to come.”

Fellow worker Taylor Fugate echoed similar sentiments, stating, “I’m voting yes to get Volkswagen to come back to the table. The majority of the people I know don’t want VW’s ‘final offer.’ They want to keep negotiating, and we are willing to do what it takes to make that happen.”

James Robinson, another employee, emphasized the necessity of industry-standard treatment, saying, “I’m voting yes because this is the time to show Volkswagen we are serious about receiving industry-standard treatment. Job security’s essential. They could pay us $100 an hour, but it means nothing if they close the plant two weeks into the agreement.”

The UAW has highlighted several shortcomings in Volkswagen’s latest offer, pinpointing four critical areas:

1) Job Security: The current proposal lacks protective language against plant closures, outsourcing, or selling the Chattanooga site. While these measures would impose no additional costs on Volkswagen, they are crucial for workers and their families.

2) Affordable Healthcare: The offer does not meet the standard of affordable, high-quality healthcare available to 150,000 UAW autoworkers nationwide, advocating for equal treatment, not elevated costs.

3) Wages Keeping Pace with Costs: Ensuring wages align with living cost increases is fundamental, achievable by Volkswagen signing off on its existing proposal.

4) Respect and Dignity: Workers seek a contract ensuring earned PTO usage, protection from excessive drug testing, and sufficient recovery breaks from intense job demands.

The UAW has submitted a counterproposal on October 15, emphasizing 14 essential items focused on job security, fair wages, affordable healthcare, and respect and dignity.

The union recommends contract ratification if Volkswagen agrees to the revised terms. Otherwise, a strike authorization vote may proceed, preparing for further necessary action.

Granting strike authorization allows the UAW bargaining committee to initiate a strike if needed. No strike date is currently set, as the committee continues to seek further discussions with Volkswagen management, who has yet to agree to meet.