NASHVILLE — Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey says Volkswagen officials told him this week the German manufacturer is remaining “neutral” in its dealings with the United Auto Workers and labor issues at its Chattanooga plant.
“I think I was assured yesterday that they told me they want to stay neutral. I said, ‘OK, that’s all I’m going to ask for,'” Ramsey told reporters Thursday.
The speaker said he and Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, the Senate speaker pro tempore, met with top VW officials Wednesday.
Christian Koch, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America’s Chattanooga operations, and David Geanacopoulos, the group’s executive vice president for public affairs and general counsel, came to the state Capitol to meet with legislators, including some Chattanooga lawmakers highly critical of the UAW’s effort to unionize the Chattanooga plant and Volkswagen’s handling of the issue.
Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, speaks during a legislative planning session in this 2014, file photo.Volkswagen is seeking support for a $165.8 million incentive deal that Republican Gov. Bill Haslam has included in his proposed budget. The money would provide support for Volkswagen to begin making a new sport utility vehicle at its Chattanooga facility.