Volkswagen is responsible for creating 4,000 jobs in Chattanooga.How often is it that a company comes to your town, builds a $1 billion state-of-the-art facility, hires 2,700 people, provides a market for support businesses that employ another 1,300, and spins a payroll and purchasing net that generates more than $50 million in state and local tax revenue every year?
And how often is it that the same company – following a business model that works well for it at 61 other plants around the world – insists that its workers be partners in determining business practices.
And how often does any company invite a union participation to help create that partnership and make its business better?
Volkswagen is that one single company. It has invested in Chattanooga. It already is responsible for creating at least 4,000 new jobs here. And it churns $50 million a year in tax revenues into our community and the state.
VW wants a formal, legal way to have a works council – a labor board that talks with management about issues such as work hours, training and safety.