Workers in attendance for Friday’s United Auto Workers (UAW) watch party feel they’ve made history.
And for those Volkswagen employees who wanted unionization, the third time was the charm.
“I knew these workers here, I knew they were fed up, I knew they wanted a union,” said UAW President Shawn Fain.
In order to unionize, the UAW needed 50% plus one vote.
But Friday night, employees with the official National Labor Relations Board results reporting 2,628-985 votes for union representation.
“To the other elected officials who are afraid of unions, I just want to say, don’t be afraid of people power.
Late Friday evening, President Joe Biden congratulating workers at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant, saying in part: “I am proud to stand with auto workers now as they successfully organize at Volkswagen.”
Volkswagen thanked its Chattanooga workers for voting in the election.
Attendees at the United Auto Workers (UAW) watch party on Friday feel as though they have made history.
And the third time proved to be lucky for those Volkswagen workers who desired to become unionized.
UAW President Shawn Fain stated, “I knew these workers here, I knew they were fed up, I knew they wanted a union.”.
The UAW required 50% plus one vote to become a union.
The UAW elections in the past failed to reach this goal, with results indicating 47% and 48%, respectively.
On Friday night, however, workers with 2,628-985 votes for union representation according to the official National Labor Relations Board results.
Some voters from other states in the United States with right-to-work laws attended the vote. S. yearning to witness comparable transformations in their homeland.
“A victory over Tennessee here in the South could have significant ramifications for Texas. This is the reason I’m here, Tevita Uhatafe added.
Representative Justin Jones of Tennessee also expressed support for unionization.
“I just want to say, to the other elected officials who are afraid of unions, don’t be afraid of people power. A union guarantees that we are treated as human beings, so don’t be afraid of people banding together to voice this opinion,” Rep. stated Jones.
While praising employees at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant late on Friday night, President Joe Biden said the following:.
“I am honored to stand with Volkswagen’s auto workers as they successfully organize right now. ****.
Additionally, Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, who previously opposed UAW, released a statement on Facebook early on Saturday morning that included the following:.
“I hope that the UAW, having emerged victorious in Chattanooga, will take a lesson or two from our accomplishments as they endeavor to shed their negative image of job losses and corruption. ****.
In part, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly’s statement on Facebook on Saturday expressed his support for the workers’ decision.
“For the benefit of all of us, I hope that this new chapter in UAW leadership collaborates with Volkswagen leadership in a sincere effort to improve both Chattanooga and Volkswagen. ****.
This marks the start of the employees’ negotiations with the union.
Volkswagen expressed gratitude to its Chattanooga employees for casting ballots in the election.
