Tennessee’s Republican Governor, Bill Lee, expressed his belief that the employees at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga made an error in their decision to vote in favor of unionizing with the United Auto Workers. However, he also recognized that the ultimate choice rested with the workers themselves.
Six Southern Republican governors, including Lee, publicly expressed their opposition to the UAW’s efforts to organize workers in the South. Their argument was that voting in favor of union representation could potentially put jobs at risk.
Related posts
The outcome was quite different than expected, as the union managed to secure 73% of the vote at a facility where workers had previously rejected unionization in 2019 and 2014. This vote at the Volkswagen plant came after a wave of strikes against Detroit’s automakers last fall, which ultimately led to favorable new contracts. In May, workers at Mercedes factories near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will have the opportunity to vote on UAW representation.
During a press conference on Monday, Lee expressed his disappointment over the outcome of the Volkswagen vote, describing it as a setback for the workers. He emphasized his personal connection to skilled workers, highlighting the fact that his family’s company, Lee Company, which employs around 1,600 individuals in various home, facilities, and construction projects, does not have a unionized workforce.
During an event in Gallatin, Lee expressed his opinion on the matter, stating that he believes it is not advisable to entrust one’s future to someone else. He acknowledged that the workers at the plant made their decision based on their own unique circumstances and although he personally considers it a mistake, he respects their choice.
The union celebrated its first victory in a Southern assembly plant owned by a foreign automaker with the Volkswagen win.
President Joe Biden criticized the efforts of Lee and other Republican governors from the South who are encouraging auto workers to vote against the union. The Democrat commended the achievements of unions representing autoworkers, Hollywood actors and writers, health care workers, and others in securing improved contracts.
In a recent news release, President Biden reassured Republican governors who attempted to undermine this vote that American workers should not fear exercising their right to form a union. He emphasized that workers should be able to use their voice and exercise their legal rights without any concerns or apprehensions.
