Commissioners criticize Mayor Wamp’s anti-union press conference

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Some Hamilton County Commissioners criticized Mayor Wamp Wednesday on his press conference attacking the Volkswagen union drive.

Republican leaders who joined the press conference argued that the unionization of Volkswagen would be destructive. They even claimed the United Auto Workers union is sympathetic to the Democratic Party.

Commissioners Warren Mackey and Greg Beck both supported the union vote.

Mackey said, as a UAW member himself, he took offense by the mayor’s characterization of the organization.

Commissioner David Sharpe even raised the issue of whether the press conference may have violated the National Labor Relations Act.

“Everybody’s entitled to their opinion, no question about it.  And I would never try to keep one man from sharing his opinion with anyone else… or woman.  But to do so on a taxpayer dime, and as a representative of this county, that I do take a bit of issue with,” said Commissioner Sharpe.

Mayor Wamp did not respond to the criticism.