Some time ago, I wrote about the UAW (United Auto Workers)
union trying to unionize the VW plant in Chattanooga, TN.
The UAW has failed miserably in trying to unionize foreign
firms located in the South because the South is usually anti-union
(Right-To-Work states). The difference at VW is that German manufacturing
companies have what are called “works councils” at each plant to help workers
and management communicate and work out plant problems. Here in the U.S. our
laws stipulate that only outside unions can represent workers at a plant…stupid
law?
Anyway, I warned then that letting the UAW gain a foothold
at a foreign auto manufacturer would doom the rest of the foreign manufacturers
in the South and play havoc with the economy of the South which is doing great
thanks to these foreign auto plants.
And that is what happened in Tennessee as soon as people
found out about the UAW’s intentions. The governor and senator of the state
were up in arms saying if the UAW gets in VW no other company will want to
locate in Tennessee and they are absolutely right and this is not a good thing
for the people of Tennessee.
It was also discovered that the UAW was up to its usual
tricks getting workers to sign their petitions by telling them that it was only
for more information on the union and not an actual consent for the union to
represent them. The UAW has also been known to send in union goons to
intimidate workers to sign.
In response to all this, a anti-union workers group has
formed to collect signatures rejecting the UAW’s attempts to unionize the
plant. The leaders of this group are confident they can win the battle against
the UAW but the UAW has money and is not afraid to bribe people to get their
way.
Here is hoping the UAW is not allowed to prolong its own
life…
