The head of Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant says in a letter to employees that the United Auto Workers' timing for a new election at the factory is "unfortunate" though the company will remain "neutral."
The letter from VW plant CEO Christian Koch and Executive Vice President of Human Resources Sebastian Patta cited the "challenges we are facing as a plant, Brand, and Group." VW was rocked about a month ago by the emissions-rigging scandal.
"Nevertheless, we will respect our employees' right to petition and vote and will remain neutral throughout this process," the letter said.
UAW Local 42 last week said it had petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for an election at the plant to organize its 164 maintenance employees who fix and keep up the factory's sophisticated equipment.
The petition came more than a year and a half after the UAW lost a vote at the plant of its blue-collar workers by a margin of 712 to 626.
The VW letter from Koch and Patta also pointed out differences between the requested election and one that occurred in February 2014. It said the petition last week was submitted by the UAW and not the company, and that there's no election agreement between the union and VW.
Also, the letter said there's "no clear path to a Works Council representing all employees from a bargaining unit representing only the maintenance team."
UAW Local 42 in its petition said that it had asked VW to voluntarily recognize the maintenance employees last August, but the company wouldn't do so.
In this July 12, 2013, file photo, employees at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., work on the assembly of a Passat sedan.VW declined comment on the letter.
Gary Casteel, UAW secretary treasurer and director of its Transnational Department, said in a statement that the union is "fine with and unfazed by Volkswagen's language" in its communication to employees.
"The company has pledged to stay neutral in this situation," he said. "That's a commendable position that's consistent with federal law."
Casteel said union officials have seen numerous instances over the years of companies attempting to interfere in votes by issuing threats and using heavy-handed tactics.
"Volkswagen is not one of those companies," he said. "Instead, Volkswagen appears to be going out of its way to provide assurances that it wants a fair election."
Earlier this week, Gov. Bill Haslam also questioned the election's timing given the scandal.
"Obviously, Volkswagen is struggling with a lot of issues right now," he said.
Dan Gilmore, a Chattanooga labor attorney, said it appears from the letter that VW officials are saying that although the automaker is neutral, they aren't pleased.
Gilmore also cited the absence of an election agreement between the UAW and VW, and that the automaker didn't petition for the election.
"The fact [VW] filed last time was very unusual," he said, adding the union and VW had a detailed agreement.
He also questioned if the proposed election dates of next Thursday and Friday will take place given that the NLRB plans to have a pre-election hearing on Tuesday.
Casteel said last December that the union has an agreement it made with the company in spring 2014 to recognize the UAW. He made the comment after Local 42 gained new rights from VW for biweekly talks with top managers and regular plant access after gaining enough members to meet a policy set up by the carmaker.
A rival union, the American Council of Employees, also has gained similar rights, though not as extensive.
On Thursday, Koch and other VW officials reaffirmed the company's plan to proceed with its $600 million expansion at the plant to produce a new sport utility vehicle in Chattanooga despite the scandal that has gripped the company.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.