Historic Victory for Union as Volkswagen Workers in Tennessee Vote to Join UAW

In a historic victory for the United Auto Workers (UAW), Volkswagen employees in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have overwhelmingly voted to join the union, marking the first successful organizing drive of an automaker outside of Detroit’s Big Three.

The union organizing passed with 73% of the vote, or 2,628 workers, in support of the UAW, according to the National Labor Relations Board. A total of roughly 84% of the eligible VW workers participated in the election, with seven challenged ballots and three voided.

UAW President Shawn Fain and supporters see this win as a significant milestone in the union’s unprecedented organizing campaign of 13 automakers in the U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated the union on its “historic vote,” highlighting the impact of union wins on raising wages and expanding the middle class.

Volkswagen confirmed the UAW’s win and expressed gratitude to its Chattanooga workers for participating in the election. The company will await certification of the results by the NLRB.

The successful organizing drive comes amidst opposition from six Republican governors of Southern states, who expressed concerns about unionization jeopardizing jobs in the automotive manufacturing industry. The UAW previously failed to organize the Volkswagen plant in 2014 and 2019 but has now set its sights on negotiating with VW and an anticipated organizing vote of Mercedes-Benz workers in Alabama.

With plans to expand beyond the Big Three, the UAW aims to grow its influence and membership in the auto industry, setting ambitious goals for the future.