KILLING THE GOOSE ?

By Bob Walsh

 

Volkswagen automobile plant workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee celebrated after a majority voted to join the United Automobile Workers union.

 

The line employees at the VW plant in Chattanooga, TN. voted overwhelmingly to unionize.  The final vote was 73%.  

A large part of the reason that VW set up shop there is than Tennessee is a right-to-work state without compulsory unionization.  That being said the workers saw the very large advances that the UAW members up north got from the Big 3 and decided they want some too.  Not an unreasonable attitude  However, they must be careful not to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

VW got by very nicely making all their cars in Germany, and eventually Mexico and Brazil.  They could probably do so again if necessary, though there are business advantages in being home grown.

There will be a similar election next month at the Mercedes plant just outside of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  

Right now UAW workers get about $36 per hour, not including profit sharing and benefits.  VW top step base wage is a tad over $32 an hour.  

The UAW already represents workers at two Ford plants in Kentucky and two GM plants, one in Tennessee and one in Texas.

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: VW is not going to leave and the UAW members are going to vote Biden-Harris.