Wisconsin became a right-to-work state on May 9^th with the stroke of Scott Walker’s pen. Workers there are no longer forced into paying union dues by federal labor law, meaning unions will have to actually earn their financial support.

Tennessee Got More Than It Bargained For in Chattanooga

“Would you rather?” is a pretty simple children’s game.

For example, would you rather your best friend skip your party, or come with their annoying friend?

Are Volkswagen executives are undermining the democratic process? 

On Valentine’s Day 2014, Volkswagen, Chattanooga workers rejected the United Auto Workers (UAW) in a representation election.  However, over a year later, the union is still around. How so?

In November 2014, Volkswagen executives announced a new policy that gives limited recognition to all “eligible organizations.”  The UAW, now known in Chattanooga as the “Local 42,” fits this category.

But Volkswagen executives did not stop there.

Roy Exum’s recent Chattanoogan.com column highlights the latest chapter of the United Auto Workers (UAW) at the NTN-Bower Corporation in Hamilton, Alabama.  After a series of elections – all of which were declared invalid – the workers there were finally able to decertify the UAW from their workplace. 

In his column, Exum notes that other auto plant workers in the south should be alarmed at the UAW’s desperation to stay in Hamilton.  The union is frantically trying “to organize before this summer’s pivotal meetings with the ‘Big Three’ automakers in Detroit.”

The Washington Examiner recently highlighted the latest labor-related developments at Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  The Center for Worker Freedom’s Matt Patterson was quoted in the article, noting the union-free status of the plant:

‘Matt Patterson, executive director of the Center for Worker Freedom, an affiliate of the conservative Americans for Tax Reform, noted that "Both groups are essentially unofficial, voluntary clubs and Volkswagen, Chattanooga remains union-free — for now."’

A recent International Business Times article highlighted the latest labor-related developments at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where workers from the American Council of Employees (ACE) have petitioned the company for limited recognition.

The Center for Worker Freedom’s Matt Patterson was quoted in this article explaining the problem with ACE’s recognition:

‘Patterson…said he’s skeptical of the group’s decision to bargain with Volkswagen.