NASHVILLE - Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said today he's still concerned about the timing of this week's United Auto Workers election at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant.
"VW has some bigger concerns right now," he said in an interview with reporters, citing the emission scandal the automaker is juggling. "Our concerns are mainly focused on that."
The governor also talked about a new office the UAW and German union IG Metall has set up in Spring Hill, Tenn., to try to organize auto suppliers.
He said a lot of suppliers come to the state because it's a right to work location, and companies worry about landing in Tennessee if the UAW has "a stronghold."
The National Labor Relations Board will oversee a vote on Thursday and Friday by 164 maintenance, or skilled trades, workers at the VW plant who the UAW is trying to organize for collective bargaining purposes.