Gov. Bill Haslam speaks at Volkswagen Chattanooga in this file photo.NASHVILLE – Gov. Bill Haslam today said he has not offered specific incentives for Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant based on the German auto manufacturer resist efforts by the United Auto Workers to unionize the factory.
“We did not,” Haslam told reporters this afternoon in Nashville.
The governor, who opposes unionization at the plant, repeated his objections to a union at VW’s plant.
“We have said obviously what y’all do there matters to us and as we continue to have the discussion with you about them hopefully having an SUV line in Chattanooga their decision there obviously would be something we would like to discuss with them,” he said.
Last week, state House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner of Nashville told the Times Free Press he was concerned about reports he’s heard that sound “almost like [Haslam’s] trying to bribe them if they don’t bring the union in.”