CHATTANOOGA: The United Auto Workers union suffered a major defeat on Friday when workers at German auto giant Volkswagen’s Tennessee plant rejected its organising efforts.
The closely-watched vote came as the US labour movement is fighting for its survival after decades of shrinking membership rolls. Volkswagen workers voted against joining the union in a final vote of 712 to 626.
“While we’re outraged by politicians and outside special interest groups interfering with the basic legal right of workers to form a union, we’re proud that these workers were brave and stood up to the tremendous pressure from outside,” said UAW secretary-treasurer Dennis Williams, who directs the union’s transnational programme.
AFP
