VW workers in Tennessee reject UAW in devastating defeat for union

[mystery-ak]

http://www.freep.com/article/20140214/BUSINESS0104/302140095/uaw-volkswagen-chattanooga

VW workers in Tennessee reject UAW in devastating defeat for union
12:21 AM, February 15, 2014

By Brent Snavely

CHATTANOOGA, TENN. — The UAW suffered a devastating defeat at Volkswagen’s plant here as workers rejected union representation by a 712-626 margin.

The defeat, which came despite Volkswagen’s neutrality, tarnishes UAW President Bob King’s legacy and could make it next to impossible for the union to extend its reach beyond domestic automakers.

“While we certainly would have liked a victory for workers here, we deeply respect the Volkswagen Global Group Works Council, Volkswagen management and (German union) 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,” King said in a statement.


continued at link

[truth_seeker]

Devastating? I doubt it is that bad for all parties. Just the union.

Meanwhile BMW is South Caroline, Mercedes in Alabama have operated without unions for years.

[massadvj]

I wonder why VW was neutral?  Afraid of US politics?  Afraid that not being neutral might have swayed workers to vote FOR unionization?  Or did they calculate that the cost/benefit of unionization is neutral to them?

[truth_seeker]

I wonder why VW was neutral?  Afraid of US politics?  Afraid that not being neutral might have swayed workers to vote FOR unionization?  Or did they calculate that the cost/benefit of unionization is neutral to them?

I do not know why they were neutral, however in Germany there does not exist the adversarial relationship. For decades, there has been cooperation, by unionized workers and the automaker firms.

There is a "works board" tradition in Germany whereby workers have a formal forum to deal with matters. A few articles on the subject.

https://www.google.com/search?output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=german+unions+works+board&oq=german+unions+works+board&gs_l=hp.12...2202.7291.1.9057.25.24.0.1.1.0.247.3382.0j22j2.24.0....0...1c.1.35.hp..4.21.2916.FNdK8al4bgg&biw=1152&bih=592&dpr=1&cad=cbv&sei=myIAU_S0OZbooAT5woHgDQ

[massadvj]

I do not know why they were neutral, however in Germany there does not exist the adversarial relationship. For decades, there has been cooperation, by unionized workers and the automaker firms.

There is a "works board" tradition in Germany whereby workers have a formal forum to deal with matters. A few articles on the subject.

https://www.google.com/search?output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=german+unions+works+board&oq=german+unions+works+board&gs_l=hp.12...2202.7291.1.9057.25.24.0.1.1.0.247.3382.0j22j2.24.0....0...1c.1.35.hp..4.21.2916.FNdK8al4bgg&biw=1152&bih=592&dpr=1&cad=cbv&sei=myIAU_S0OZbooAT5woHgDQ

Pretty interesting.  It may be naive for any European manufacturer to think what works in Europe will work in the USA.  But it's their company.  They can do what they want, including turning over some decision-making capacity to the workforce. 

[Rapunzel]

Pretty interesting.  It may be naive for any European manufacturer to think what works in Europe will work in the USA.  But it's their company.  They can do what they want, including turning over some decision-making capacity to the workforce.

I found it interesting they pay on average $5 an hour more than the Michigan UAW workers make - in a state with lower taxes - plus there is no union dues.  Begs the question what the heck was wrong with the 612 yes voters..