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Volkswagen expected the plant to be unionized when they were planning it, and it was OK about that. However, the local political leaders in power let it be kn

Volkswagen expected the plant to be unionized when they were planning it, and it was OK about that. However, the local political leaders in power let it be known that they would not offer VW various incentives for locating the plant in TN if it was to be unionized, presumably because union workers are much more inclined to vote for, and unions much more inclined to contribute to the opposite party. There are three other large non-union auto plants in Tennessee and two in neighboring states. The UAW certainly thinks that the VW plant will demonstrate the advantage of collective bargaining to workers in those other plants.

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nytesky 2y ago
I thought part of the attraction was “right to work” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/right_to_work_state#:~:text=A%20state%20that%20has%20a,of%20the%20representation%20in%20negotiation https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/right_to_work_state#:~:text=.... made the unions far more fragile?
- MithrilTuxedo 2y ago
  The theory may be premised on false beliefs about unions.
- cool_dude85 2y ago
  It does make things tougher financially for the union but certainly still doable. Especially if you have a big national like UAW that can step in if need be. My guess would be if 70% voted in favor you'd see around that amount paying dues.
ItCouldBeWorse 2y ago
Did the union gets seats in the board of directors - as they have in germany?
- deleted 2y ago
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Applejinx 2y ago
If I understand correctly, German law REQUIRES labor to be represented on the board, so it's interesting that they were able to set up a plant in Tennessee in the first place when they could not comply with German law doing so. This in no way upsets Volkswagen, in other words. It's normal.
- avianlyric 2y ago
  It seems to be upsetting VW's local US management[1], even if their German based management might be quietly pleased with this outcome. [1] https://labornotes.org/blogs/2019/06/volkswagen-declares-war-against-works-council-and-german-union https://labornotes.org/blogs/2019/06/volkswagen-declares-war...
  - jwagenet 2y ago
    Based on that article, European management seems to be pushing against US unionization too (installing anti union local ceo, etc)
  - rrr_oh_man 2y ago
    Anecdotally, I have not come across any German, Austrian, or Swiss CEO who liked unions.
    - Rinzler89 2y ago
      Pretty much, and that's considering unions in Europe are a lot weaker than in the US. A lot of union busting goes in in Austria even if unions are legal. Austrian Antron Paar is notorious for firing everyone who voices about starting a union. So I have no idea why grandparent and other commenters on HN, would assume VW would be "silently happy" to see more unions, when I'm pretty sure they're not that happy about already having one in Germany but they have to tolerate it because it's the law there, but deep down they'd rather not have any at all as that's how businesses role.
      - emptysongglass 2y ago

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nytesky 2y ago

I thought part of the attraction was “right to work” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/right_to_work_state#:~:text=A%20state%20that%20has%20a,of%20the%20representation%20in%20negotiation https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/right_to_work_state#:~:text=.... made the unions far more fragile?

MithrilTuxedo 2y ago
The theory may be premised on false beliefs about unions.
cool_dude85 2y ago
It does make things tougher financially for the union but certainly still doable. Especially if you have a big national like UAW that can step in if need be. My guess would be if 70% voted in favor you'd see around that amount paying dues.

ItCouldBeWorse 2y ago

Did the union gets seats in the board of directors - as they have in germany?

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[deleted]

Applejinx 2y ago

If I understand correctly, German law REQUIRES labor to be represented on the board, so it's interesting that they were able to set up a plant in Tennessee in the first place when they could not comply with German law doing so. This in no way upsets Volkswagen, in other words. It's normal.

avianlyric 2y ago
It seems to be upsetting VW's local US management[1], even if their German based management might be quietly pleased with this outcome. [1] https://labornotes.org/blogs/2019/06/volkswagen-declares-war-against-works-council-and-german-union https://labornotes.org/blogs/2019/06/volkswagen-declares-war...
- jwagenet 2y ago
  Based on that article, European management seems to be pushing against US unionization too (installing anti union local ceo, etc)
- rrr_oh_man 2y ago
  Anecdotally, I have not come across any German, Austrian, or Swiss CEO who liked unions.
  - Rinzler89 2y ago
    Pretty much, and that's considering unions in Europe are a lot weaker than in the US. A lot of union busting goes in in Austria even if unions are legal. Austrian Antron Paar is notorious for firing everyone who voices about starting a union. So I have no idea why grandparent and other commenters on HN, would assume VW would be "silently happy" to see more unions, when I'm pretty sure they're not that happy about already having one in Germany but they have to tolerate it because it's the law there, but deep down they'd rather not have any at all as that's how businesses role.
    - emptysongglass 2y ago