– A vote on union representation at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee ends in a defeat for IndustriALL affiliate the UAW by 626-712 after threats and intimidation by Republican politicians and anti-union groups.

Workers at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant voted against union representation that would have led to the establishment of a works council. It would have been the first such model of labor-management relations in the United States, supported by the Volkswagen company and its CEO of the Chattanooga plant, Frank Fischer.

At the end of a three-day election  supervised by the National Labor Relations Board, on 14 February it became clear that Volkswagen workers had voted against United Auto Workers (UAW) representation by 712 to 626.

The workers’ free choice was undermined by an aggressive opposition campaign led by Republican politicians and anti-union groups, involving threats and intimidation. Tennessee’s Republican lawmakers threatened to withhold tax incentives from Volkswagen if the workers voted for union representation. A Republican senator claimed he had been “assured” of new investment if the workers voted against the union.

The election took place after unprecedented cooperation between IndustriALL, United Auto Workers (UAW) and German’s IG Metall. UAW worked hard in the weeks leading up to the election, being allowed to enter the plant to inform workers of the consequences and benefits of establishing a works council.

“While we certainly would have liked a victory for workers here, we deeply respect the Volkswagen Global Group Works Council, Volkswagen management and IG Metall for doing their best to create a free and open atmosphere for workers to exercise their basic human right to form a union,” said UAW President Bob King.

“We commend Volkswagen for its commitment to global human rights, to worker rights and trying to provide an atmosphere of freedom to make a decision,” said UAW Region 8 Director Gary Casteel, who directs the union’s Southern organizing. “Unfortunately, politically motivated third parties threatened the economic future of this facility and the opportunity for workers to create a successful operating model that that would grow jobs in Tennessee.”

IndustriALL general secretary Jyrki Raina says:

“This is sad news for IndustriALL’s global family, but equally for the workers at the VW plant in Chattanooga. Outside interference undermined the workers’ free choice.  Workers  in Tennessee should be able to enjoy true freedom of association. We applaud the 626 who resisted threats and intimidation and voted in favour of defending their rights collectively.”

The Tennessee plant is the only Volkswagen manufacturing unit in the world without union representation.

Source: http://www.industriall-union.org/outside-interference-undermines-vw-workers-free-choice-in-chattanooga

– Because United We (Working Americans) Stand But Individually, They (Right Wing Politicians/Corporations/Unscrupulous Employers) Can Bully Us!

They simply do not want working people having the platform to organize together to negotiate because it levels the playing field!

The bottom line is that all of the money in the world can not by solidarity and we can either negotiate together/collectively for fair wages, standards and benefits or we can go it alone!

They Want To Separate Us And Break Us Down. We Choose To Unite Together! The Union Way!!!

In Solidarity,

Philly Labor

Democratic political candidates seek campaign funding from Labor unions like republican candidates seek funding from corporations. If they can get rid of the unions, they get rid of the competition!

Stay Union Strong!

PhillyLabor.com Editorial – The Philadelphia Labor Movement MUST Continue to Stand and Fight In Solidarity Against Those Who Would Wipe Us off the MAP!

Folks, Look around you. Look at what is happening with the proposed “Right To Work” legislation in Harrisburg. Look at what just happened in Tennessee at the VW plant whose employees tried to unionize just last week in the face of right wing political opposition and threats, from Sen Bob Corker and Co..

Now more than ever, in representation of working families everywhere and the entire middle class, the labor movement throughout Philadelphia and Vicinity, one of America’s last strongholds, MUST to stick together in Solidarity in support of our labor leaders and let our collective voices be heard by the right wing legislatures who wish to literally wipe us off the map!

Hell No we won’t go quietly in to the night!!!! We will go kicking and screaming and fighting for worker’s rights, our dignity, our pride, our families and our past and future generations who are depending on our legacy  to help keep unions, the middle class and the American Dream Alive for everyone throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond!!!!!!!!

WE MUST REMEMBER AT THE POLLS, WHILE CANVASSING, WHILE PROTESTING AND WHILE VOTING THOSE WHO STAND BY US AND AGAINST US!!!!!!!

As part of the Pro-Union Label Campaign, which Identifies and promotes businesses and entities who are friends and foes of labor, the Union Protest List is an informational resource for Philadelphia area union community to reference businesses or entities who are being protested by area unions.

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UNION PROTEST LIST – The Following Entities Are Being Protested By One Or More Philadelphia Area Unions:

– ILA Local 1291 Against Fresh Del Monte

– Paycheck Protection Act, HB 1507/ SB 1034 (Right To Work Legislation)

– Planet Fitness – All Locations for Wages and Standards by Sheet Metal Workers Local #19

– Governor Corbet – For Proposing State Lottery and Liquor Privatization Legislation that would cause thousands of union members to lose their jobs along with various other anti-union sentiments.

– Post Bros – For Standards and Wages By Various Phila Construction Trades Unions

– Mayor Michael Nutter – by DC #33 & #47 (Contributing to City Unions Working Without Contracts for Extended Periods of time)