On Monday, February 3rd, Volkswagen workers concerned about the possibility that the United Auto Workers is getting an unfair advatnage in its efforts to unionize their Chattanooga plant, delivered two letters to upper managemnt in which they requested the opportunity to share with their co-workers the other, anti-UAW side of the argument.  It was the second set of such letter that the workers, led by Mike Burton, purveyor of www.no2uaw.com, had delivered.

The text of the two Feb. 3 letters read in part as follows:

Mr. Frank Fisher

Volkswagen Group of America – Chattanooga Operations

Re:  Renewed Request for Meeting Space at VW Conference Center

Dear Mr. Fisher:

I am writing this letter to request that access be provided to the Conference Center or, in the alternative, the Training Center (which buildings were built with Tennessee tax funds) on the dates of February 4, 5, or 6 for the purpose of discussing alternate methods of worker representation with team members between shifts.

I do not make this request as an individual employee of Volkswagen Group of America – Chattanooga Operations, but rather as a member of the board of directors of Southern Momentum, a group representing the position of more than six hundred VW team members.

Volkswagen team members are entitled to be provided with all available information concerning their options, as well as the potential implications of those choices.  We are simply asking that team members be provided with information to assist them in making an informed decision.  Allowing the UAW to be the only voice heard by employees is not a “neutral” position – it is, rather, a disservice to the company’s employees and to the company itself.  It is for this simple reason that we would request access to team members on the above dates.

Due to the urgency of this matter, I would ask that a response to this request be provided to me no later than 12:00 noon (EST) today.  I appreciate your consideration of, and timely response to, this request.

Sincerely,

Mike Burton

Mr. Frank Fisher

Volkswagen Group of America – Chattanooga Operations

Re:  Renewed Request for Copy of Excelsior List

Dear Mr. Fisher:

I am writing this letter to request a copy of the Excelsior list (i.e., the list setting for the names, contact information, and other relevant information concerning eligible voters) prepared by Volkswagen Group of America—Chattanooga Operations with respect to what we understand to be an upcoming union election at the Chattanooga plant.

I do not make this request as an individual employee of Volkswagen Group of America – Chattanooga Operations, but rather as a member of the board of directors of Southern Momentum, a group representing the position of more than six hundred VW team members.

Due to the urgency of this matter, I would ask that a response to this request be provided to me no later than 12:00 noon (EST) today.  I appreciate your consideration of, and timely response to, this request.

Sincerely,

Mike Burton

Burton received the following response, a rejection of his requests in which VW disputed that IG Metall had been allowed access to employees:

It is a distinction without a difference.  Sources tell CWF that Works Council members were in fact given acess to the employees at the plant to discuss the virtues of the works council concept and how it would benefit VW Chattanooga.  This is of course, is pure union propoganda: the UAW has repeatedly stressed the alleged need for a works council in Chattanooga, a need it claims it is uniquely positioned to fill.

Also conveniently not mentioned in the rejection letter is the fact that the Works Council is controlled by IG Metall, the powerful German union allied with the UAW in its efforts to orgainze the facility.

Any excuse to deny anti-union workers a voice in this dispute; that seems to be Volkswagen's policy.