Possible VW Chattanooga union vote dates proposed
The petition by the United Auto Workers for a vote on union representation at Volkswagen Chattanooga calls for an election April 17, 18 and 19 at the plant.
The dates, included in the petition filed by the union Monday, could shift if the UAW and company don’t agree on election details such as the size of the bargaining unit.
The UAW on Monday said the petition was filed with the National Labor Relations Board for the vote by VW production workers to align with the union, which would be the third such election since 2014.
The petition, which the Chattanooga Times Free Press obtained through an open records request, put the election on the days next month with workers able to vote at the plant during three time slots each day.
The size of the bargaining unit in the petition is 4,300 production and skilled maintenance employees. Some 5,500 people work for Volkswagen Chattanooga.
According to the NLRB, if the parties do not stipulate to the details of an election, a preelection hearing is slated for March 26 in Atlanta.
The union said in a statement Monday the petition was filed after a supermajority of Volkswagen employees signed union cards in the past 100 days.
Michael W. Lowder, a Volkswagen Group of America spokesperson, said Monday in a statement the company respects workers’ right to a democratic process and to determine who should represent their interests.
“We will fully support an NLRB vote so every team member has a chance to vote in privacy in this important decision,” he said. “Volkswagen is proud of our working
environment in Chattanooga that provides some of the best paying jobs in the area.”
The UAW did not return a call seeking comment on the petition’s election dates.
After the petition was filed, President Joe Biden issued a statement saying he supports a vote at the plant.
The UAW lost elections in 2014 and 2019 by close margins at the plant that produces the Atlas and ID.4 SUVs.
Dan Gilmore, a Chattanooga labor law attorney, said the NLRB will look at the submitted union cards to make sure they’re signed and dated within the past year.
“Unless something is wrong, they’ll accept them as legitimate,” he said in an earlier phone call.
Gilmore said VW will provide contact information for those eligible to vote. Typically, he said he believes worker eligibility will be those employed before the payroll end date prior to the petition filing.
“If there are no disputes, the (NLRB) regional director will schedule an election to take place,” he said.
According to the NLRB, those workers eligible to vote are all full-time and regular part-time production and maintenance employees. Not eligible are specialists, technicians, clerical employees, engineers, purchasing and inventory workers, along with those employed by contractors or temporary agencies, managers and supervisors.