UAW Wins First Southern Plant with 73% Vote at Volkswagen Tennessee

Apr 22, 2024, 05:53 PM

The United Auto Workers (UAW) achieved a significant victory at Volkswagen's Tennessee plant, securing 73% of the vote in a recent unionization election, marking the union's first win in a Southern plant owned by VW. This win is a pivotal moment for UAW's broader $40 million campaign aimed at expanding union presence across the Southern and Western United States, targeting 35 non-union auto companies. UAW President Shawn Fain, who has been a vocal advocate for unionization, highlighted the victory as just the beginning, with plans to organize more auto plants, including two Mercedes-Benz facilities in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with a five-day election scheduled to start on May 13. The success at Volkswagen is seen as a crucial momentum builder for the union, which had previously faced challenges in winning over workers in traditionally anti-union regions.