Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke speaks to the media from the U.S. Attorneys Office in Chattanooga in this Nov. 4, 2013, file photo.Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke and leaders of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce said tonight they are eager to move after the UAW vote to pursuing an expansion of the Volkswagen plant.
This has always been a decision for VW and their employees," Berke said after Volkswagen employees voted against representation by the UAW. "Now that their decision is made, let's focus on what matters most to our community - bringing more living wage, middle class jobs to Chattanooga."
Ron Harr, president of the Chattanooga Chamber which opposed the UAW during the organizing campaign, said Chamber economic recruiters will work to encourage VW to add a sports utility vehicle line to the Chattanooga assembly plant.
"The employees have spoken, and we welcome resolution on this issue both for them and the community as a whole," Harr said. "No matter where you stood going into this election, we encourage everyone to come together around the goal we all share-the creation of more jobs in our community."