Volkswagen Develops Community Organization Engagement Policy to Address Unions

Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC (Volkswagen Chattanooga) has established a Community Organization Engagement policy that sets guidelines for interactions with labor organizations whose membership includes a significant percentage of Volkswagen Chattanooga employees.

In order to be eligible to engage with Volkswagen under this policy, an organization must exist for the primary purpose of representing employees and their interests to employers consistent with the National Labor Relations Act.

The policy establishes a method to assure fair and equal treatment of all groups through a process that is transparent, respectful and consistent. Its purpose is to allow eligible organizations the opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue with Volkswagen and its employees. “We recognize and accept that many of our employees are interested in external representation and we are putting this policy in place so that a constructive dialog is possible and available for everyone,” said Sebastian Patta, EVP of HR for Volkswagen Chattanooga.

“Volkswagen has a long tradition of positive employee engagement at our plants around the world and we welcome this in our company,” Patta said.

The Community Organization Engagement policy establishes three levels of engagement and commensurate opportunities relative to the Volkswagen employees represented. As an organization grows, the opportunities available for access and dialog increase.

Examples of opportunities available under this program include the ability to use company space for group meetings, the ability to post information and announcements, and to have regular meetings with Volkswagen management representatives.

An external auditor will be engaged to verify the percentage of a particular group’s employee membership to determine what level of engagement has been reached.

“Of course, any employee can approach Volkswagen at any time with an idea or a concern. But we wanted to extend these additional opportunities to groups of employees who want to talk with Volkswagen about issues of common interest,” said Ryan Rose, General Manager for HR Operations.