Volkswagen employee and union barginer testifies at Senate hearing

WASHINGTON (WDEF)- A Volkswagen employee and union leader testified on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning.

Steve Cochran says he has worked at VW for 14 years and is on the UAW’s bargaining committee.

However, he voiced his displeasure with how that process has gone to a group of Senators, arguing that V-W has broken the law.

Cochran said, “Your average worker has to fight like hell to win their union against constant illegal activity against their employers. If they overcome that to win their union, then they have to fight like hell to win their union contract and improve their lives.”

Cochran told the panel of Senators that he along with other VW employees have been intimidated during the process of contract negotiations.

These are allegations that VW has denied.

However, they were recently sanctioned for union busting activities at their New Jersey plant by the National Relations Labor Board, and cases against the Chattanooga plant are pending.

The negotiations have lasted over 500 days since April 2024 when the UAW won its bargaining election.

He is asking Congress to revise the National Labor Relation Act to provide more protections for workers.

Cochran said, “We know it’s possible to enforce the law, and force companies to negotiate with their workforce. Why are we not getting support in Tennessee? Why does Volkswagen get to break the law and screw Tennessee autoworkers out of their fair contract?”

Teamsters President Sean O’Brien laid out what these improvements may look like.

O’Brien said, “This bill ensures a first contract can reached in months, not years.”

According to Q3 sales reports here from Volkswagen, the ID4, the electric SUV made here in Chattanooga, its sales went up by 176%.

However, Cochran argues those profits aren’t being seen by the workers.

He said, “Less than four cents for every dollar they make goes to the worker in Chattanooga for the cars we sell. Less than four cents.”

Cochran told Senators what he does not like about the current proposal from Volkswagen. 

He said, “They’ve presented us with a quote on quote final offer that maintains subpar health care, doesn’t protect our wages from inflation, and makes no commitment to keeping the good jobs in Chattanooga there.”

That final offer included a 20 percent wage increase and a $4,000 signing bonus among other benefits.