Analysis: UAW's win at VW opens door to the South

DETROIT -- The United Auto Workers' certification to represent 45% of the workers at Volkswagen's plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., could provide the foothold it needs to seek unionization at other automakers' factories in the South, experts say.

Although the UAW has fallen short of having the 50% of Volkswagen's workers it needs to recognized as the exclusive bargaining agent, the union will be able to meet with Volkswagen's management team on a regular basis under VW's new labor policy.

Kristin Dziczek, director of the labor and policy group for the Center for Automotive Research, said the certification results provide proof that the union's strategy in the South is working.

"I think this is a template they are going to follow all across the South," said Dziczek. The union also has ongoing organizing campaigns with Mercedes-Benz in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Nissan in Canton, Miss., and Smyrna, Tenn.

In July, the UAW set up a new local chapter in Chattanooga as a way to let local employees take the lead
at the plant.

The membership certification also separates the UAW from a rival organization, the American Council of Employees, that has also vowed to represent Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga.

Last month, ACE said it planned to organize enough workers to represent workers who are opposed to the UAW. But ACE has not yet applied to represent Volkswagen workers, the automaker said.

Sean Moss, an hourly Volkswagen employee and interim president of ACE, did not return several recent e-mails and phone calls.

Gary Chaison, professor of labor relations at Clark University, disagrees that the verification results represent a major victory for the UAW.

"I think what this all boils down to is the UAW is refusing to call a defeat a defeat. They attempted to organize a transplant and were unsuccessful," Chaison said in reference to an election that the UAW narrowly lost at the Chattanooga plant in February.

Chaison also said Volkswagen's labor policy could face legal challenges.

The National Right to Work Foundation has been closely monitoring the issue, said Anthony Riedel, spokesman for the organization.

"As concerned workers approach the Foundation for legal aid, we will discuss with them their options if Volkswagen reneges on its agreement to respect the workers' vote — in this case, to remain free from unionization," Riedel said.

The UAW has been trying to organize Volkswagen workers for at least three years and believes that organizing automotive assembly plants in the south is crucial to its survival.

Despite recent modest membership gains, the UAW represents fewer than 400,000 workers, down from 1.4 million in 1979.