UAW victory could lead to more union wins in the South
When the news was announced Friday night that the United Auto Workers had successfully organized Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, the supporters gathered at I.B.E.W. Local 175 jumped, cheered and hugged.
The results were hardly in doubt from the moment the first tally was posted. The union lead by more than 70% and kept that lead throughout the night.
In the end, 73% of the eligible VW workers voted to join the union, according to the National Labor Review Board, which oversaw the three-day election. Of the 4,326 workers eligible to vote, 3,613 cast ballots.
The historic victory is the first step in the UAW’s campaign to grow its membership in the South, a region that has been historically anti-union.
“They said Southern workers aren’t ready for it. But you all said, watch this. You all moved the mountain,” UAW President Shawn Fain said to cheering VW workers after the victory.
The UAW’s win follows big successes for the organization that staged a successful strike last year against the three largest U.S. automakers. The UAW is now concentrated on influencing the growing number of foreign auto plants and newer companies like Tesla and Rivian across the South.
Today more than two-thirds of Americans express support for unions in the most recent Gallup poll. That supportive environment fades somewhat in Tennessee, according to the newly released poll by the Beacon Center, a conservative-leaning think tank. It found that 44% of likely voters in the state have a positive view of the UAW’s effort to organize VW, 19% had a
since the 1950s when Saturdays were big business days,” said Clarksville Market President, Jim Clark.
“There were visitors from 22 foreign countries and 28 states,” said Clarksville Mayor Ann Rushing. “We were proud to be in the path ... and attract so many people.”
Out at the country club, Friedrich the “On-Site Astronomer” had his equipment all set. (An inveterate eclipse viewer - Friedrich is remembering you, Louisville, Ky., and Missouri - Friedrich and his wife, Dr. Marsha Friedrich, know their way around eclipses.)
Friedrich and Ron Cochran were already at the club, with locals following. Visitors also included Hannah and Joseph Miller, of Lyndon, KS. They left Waco, Texas where they were visiting their daughter, but bypassed Dallas to watch the eclipse from Clarksville.
Shreveporters who drove over: Ron Cosby, Dr. Bill Byrd and wife Beverly, Dee Cochran, Harvey Delahunty, Larry Willis, Jack and Connie Fisher, Cristina Walker, Doug Fryett and wife Dr. Susan Shattuck, with their well-behaved dogs Bonnie and Anio.
Now, Friedrich is a man who deals in details and he plied watchers with printed information. We found out the county’s Zip Code: 75426; the start of the eclipse: 12:27:30; start of total: 01:44:41; Maximum: 01-46:51; end of total: 01;49:01; end of the eclipse: 3:06:23.
He also shared things to pay attention to prior to totality, during totality and a few minutes afterwards.
How about checking temperature, wind, surroundings, and “Look for darkness overhead, light 360 degrees around horizon.”
Friedrich said we should note: Colors...greens become vivid, reds become greys.
He suggested we pay attention to bird and other animals along with insect sounds. Looking at the eclipse, “can you identify objects in the sky.”
Back in town people bought souvenirs, T-shirts, and shopped in boutiques. The 17 eating establishments, were packed. Security officials were standing by in case of an emergency and had planned for traffic flow and safety.
Rushing said Clarksville was prepared to host the crowd.
“There were no incidents,” said Rushing. “The event went smoothly ... There were no emergencies. The traffic flowed and everyone enjoyed a spectacular event. Just spectacular. We will always remember the day of April 8, 2024, perhaps the most memorable. Much planning went into the event with many providing assistance.”
“Lots and lots of picture taking at our eclipse sign on the square and basically all over town,” added the mayor. “Everyone had a great day and it was very profitable.”
Eclipse ‘24.
“It was great!” said Rushing.
No doubt about it.