VW works council says will pursue labor representation at U.S. plant

[onehandle]

Source: Reuters

[IMG][/IMG]

(Reuters) - Volkswagen's works council said it would press on with efforts to set up labor representation at its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant, after workers there voted against any such step involving the United Auto Workers union (UAW).

Employees at the plant, in a region traditionally hostile to organized labor, on Friday opted to reject representation by the union, whose membership has plummeted 75 percent since 1979 and now stands at just under 400,000.

"The outcome of the vote, however, does not change our goal of setting up a works council in Chattanooga," Gunnar Kilian, secretary general of VW's works council said in a statement on Sunday, adding workers continued to back the idea of labor representation at the plant.

Opposition to UAW involvement stemmed from concerns among many workers that a union would strain cordial relations with the company, which pays well by local and U.S. auto industry standards.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/16/us-vw-chattanooga-idUSBREA1F0A920140216

[bkanderson76]

1. Who Could Have Scripted This....Germany Throwing a Lifeline to

the American Worker.

Inept in his ways to protect himself from the corrupt politician he so elected.

Ignorant in his ways to stand up to the political regime that beats him into submission.

Just lay there and cower you sorry assholes of Chattanooga.

[christx30]

2. Well, that's stupid.

The workers spoke and they do not want to be represented by the union. Leave them alone.
And since they feel the company pays well, why should they want to force the company to pay more?
I love my job and the people I work for. I don't feel the need for union representation. If some outsider came in and tried to force me into a union, I'd be pissed off. I would sabotage any effort they made.

[onehandle]

3. Yeah. They had One vote. Why have another?

It's not like situations change, and workers come and go.

One vote should set the rules for life!

[pnwmom]

4. Those workers were threatened by Repub politicians and that affected their votes.

It wasn't a fair election.

[Plucketeer]

5. Rose-colored safety glasses

" I don't feel the need for union representation. If some outsider came in and tried to force me into a union, I'd be pissed off. I would sabotage any effort they made."

There ARE good employers out there..... and then there's the others. These VW workers have said their piece - as you indicate. But they did so under a heavy veil of doom and gloom prophecy from legislators with an agenda all their own (or more rightly - the agendas of their campaign financiers!). This could well have been a vote in some dictatorship somewhere. A vote where it is made clear well in advance, the ramifications of not voting the RIGHT way.

Come back and tell us how happy you are after you've been hornswaggled at work and had NO ONE to speak on YOUR behalf. Tell us how you just shined it on and wore a big grin.

[bkanderson76]

6. Thank You Plucketeer...Kudos

[NoGOPZone]

7. If some outsider who happened to be an elected official

tried to coerce my vote with threats I'd be more pissed off

[factory]

8. intimidation tactics

The workers were threatened and intimidated by Corker, so I wouldn't say they spoke. The union needs to vote again but do it in one day and in secret. That way no outsiders can come in and threaten them or spread bullshit lies. I can agree with you that you wouldn't want a union forced on you. I wouldn't either. I have union representation for over 30 years and where I work (Caterpillar). There it is good to have it because of the way the Company has messed up job bids, overtime pay and vacation time. Not done on purpose of course but mistakes are made. If VW took another vote without outside influence and fear tactics it could change. It might not but with just an 86 vote differential this was a lot closer than people think.

[okaawhatever]

11. The very reason they have good wages and conditions at that plant is because the unions they

already had negotiated them. All of their plants but this one are unionized. No one is forcing them to unionize, but they had enough votes for a union by the card check system until a ballot vote was forced by third party groups representing neo-conservative and Republican groups. If you want to talk about third parties, ask yourself why the fuck Grover Norquist formed a special group to lobby these workers and spent close to a million dollars. Ditto the other groups that have no interest in the plant or workers, only their own third party agenda.
And more third party, the workers were threatened by the Governor of the State, the number one and two guy in the legislature and a Federal Senator saying the factory wouldn't get tax incentives if they voted for a union. Now, keep in mind the union was supported by the company, which is usually the exact opposite situation.

[dotymed]

9. Hooray VW.

Wow, Americans are the "backwards cousins" of 1st world nations. We used to be the leaders.
VW cannot (justifiably) understand how employees cannot want a say-so in the work place.
Who would've ever predicted that "our politicians" would be the anti-Unionization goons who threaten (even the company it seems) to create doom, gloom and shutting down (by withheld tax exemptions) a workforce and a company who want their employees represented.
As a proud Union member, I have attempted to help a company's' employees Unionize. The owners pulled every dirty trick imaginable. They even shut-down the factory and re-opened under a different name.
I think that says a lot when some people (only in America) do not want a voice in how their company is run.
If I were a factory owner I would be hesitant to open a factory where my employees did want a voice in their workplace. IMO, that would indicate employees with no pride or sense of self-determination
I know that in this case, the elected government legislators interfered in the elections. TPTB want a country afraid to speak-up and stand together.
Fortunately, other countries and their workforces have proven that when everyone "has flesh in the game", businesses are more productive and better pay and benefits are a good thing.
Living in Tn., I always have to defend Unions to people that have been brainwashed into thinking they are evil.
I know, I grew up here and it took a while after I moved North, before I realized that "United we stand, divided we fall."

[okaawhatever]

12. It's not so much VW that is doing this, it's their "works council" or labor union that is pushing

the issue. Every factory of VW has a works council/union. The real argument for unionizing before the second line was added (SUV) came from the works council. They said they would fight an effort to bring the second line there if the plant weren't unionized. They don't want one non-union plant screwing with the pay and jobs of everyone else in the company. They probably fear that more plants will move to the US if the wages are artificially low and there are big tax incentives from the states.

I don't even know if VW truly supports the union effort. They publicly do, but not for altruistic reasons, I read an article from last June or July saying the headquarters works council threatened to protest if they didn't get a works council in Chattanooga. The issue here in the US is that labor law states a works council has to have an outside union representing it. Depending on the law in other countries, some works councils aren't unionized but have more freedom. The works council gives the workers "a seat at the table" so to speak and does more than negotiate pay and benefits. They are directly involved in cost saving measures, have a voice in implementing changes to model years, etc. The UAW had signed an agreement with VW to change the scope of their work. They would negotiate pay but safety and other issues would be determined by the appointed workers of the works council.

[madrchsod]

10. if the union does win those who voted no do`t have to pay union dues.

good ole right to work states or i don't have to pay union dues states

[okaawhatever]

13. I don't think they do. nt

[dotymed]

15. Which is another reason that Unions are disappearing.

These people get the perks of Union representation yet do not pay dues (mine are $16 a month) for the privilege.

[Ash_F]

14. Even VW wants them to have it.

This is maddeningly stupid.