More Volkswagen employees raising concerns about injuries
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A few weeks ago, we brought you the story of a Volkswagen employee who said he had gotten injured while working and was facing difficulties because of it.
We have since learned of other employees who are saying similar things have happened to them.
Volkswagen employee Chris Hawkins says he is still experiencing issues related to his shoulder injury he says he sustained while pushing up to 500 pounds of vehicle parts at a time.
He said, “It’s tendonitis, it would take quite a few weeks for it to heal with minimum use of the right arm and shoulder. So the restrictions in (Volkswagen) Medical is to not use your right arm for lifting, pushing, or carrying anything.”
Hawkins is not the only employee here at Volkswagen who is raising concerns about how injuries on the job are being handled.
Nicholas Mansholt, who says he works in Volkswagen’s body shop, said, “I had really bad chest pain, and we went up to Medical. They called the EMT and took me to the hospital.”
He described the cause of that chest pain as, “I had some muscle damage to some muscles in my chest and some severe rib cartilage inflammation.”
He described his duties in the body shop as he assembles vehicle doors, fenders, and hoods on cars.
Similar to Hawkins, he described how equipment failure was causing his work to be more difficult.
Mansholt said, “It’s pretty much a (expletive)… We’ve had a big issue with our rollers, that got fixed recently, but they’re starting to act up again. The rollers don’t work that well, and those are the huge metal racks the fenders sit in.”
He says after being given medication and similar restrictions to Hawkins, he attempted to return to work.
This however Mansholt says caused more issues when he attempted to turn in his medical paperwork.
Mansholt said, “They basically said screw your restrictions, and that I’m not allowed to take my prescriptions because it hinders me at work. So I was told by Medical at Volkswagen, to stop taking the prescription that my primary care doctor provided me, and that I was expected to work with no prescriptions.”
This action Mansholt says confuses him.
Mansholt said, “It’s weird, they sent me out to Erlanger East, like they sent me to that hospital, and then they told me since I didn’t go through their doctor, they didn’t have to honor my restrictions.”
Hawkins said he had dealt with similar issues, particularly with a supervisor which he says was still requiring him to lift 50 pound totes of bolts.
Hawkins said, “I was forced to do it anyways because like I told Human Resources, he’s my supervisor. If I don’t do it, he’s going to wind up telling on me and getting me fired.”
Mansholt mentioned that telling his story to co-workers has been an eye opener.
Mansholt said, “I’ve told my buddies and they’ve told their friends, and I have heard from people who heard my story that they now support the union effort because of it.”
Both want to see changes in how VW handles issues.
Mansholt said, “The employees don’t get the appreciation they deserve there.”
Hawkins said, “They should do something with better training of their entire staff, supervisor wise.”
We have reached out to Volkswagen for comment on this story, but have not heard back.
They have denied wrongdoing in previous stories relating to allegations of union busting we have done.
