Volkswagen union update in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA,Tenn. (WDEF)- The fight over unionizing Chattanooga’s Volkswagen plant is back front and center.  

Both sides chose Thursday to speak out.

Victor Vaughn who is a Logistics team member at Volkswagen says VW should be unionized.

 “There is issues that need to be addressed. Better health care for us, safer work environment, and an opportunity to have a portion of the profit sharing. Some of the other major automakers do so that we can contribute more to our families and to our community,” said Vaughn. 

 Auto workers at Volkswagen voted on union representation in 2014 and 2019. Both votes failed. 

 Vaughn said this time workers just want to be heard and their needs met. 

“We have ideas, that can hopefully help our operations be more streamline.and, and try to cut through a lot of the red tape so that we can be a more profitable company and make better products,” 

According to Volkswagen, employees will make over 60 thousand dollars in 2024. 

As well as an 8 percent salary bonus for those who meet attendance requirements.  

News 12 spoke with Brent Hinson who is the CFO of Volkswagen.  In a written statement, Henson says “Our supervisory board is made up of 50 percent of union and work council employees. Volkswagen is not unknown with unions across the world. So we respect our employees’ rights to choose and we feel like it’s up to them. We respect the rights to vote and take that out to a democratic process. Our view is we remain neutral.” 

 Henson declined an on-camera interview.  His written statement also maintained that Volkswagen provides “good paying jobs” and a clean and safe environment.

 Vaughn hopes a union vote would improve on both.

“We will petition the national labor board to show them that our numbers are there and that 70% of employees want the opportunity to be heard. At that point, we will wait for a decision to find out what day we can have a full election,” Vaughn concluded.