This story is exclusive to subscribers.

Effort to remove UAW still active after union reaches tentative deal with VW, worker says

Staff file photo / UAW members and supporters march to Volkswagen's entrance in opposition to accepting the company's offer in October 2025. The union has since reached a tentative agreement with the company that workers will vote on in the near future. Staff file photo / UAW members and supporters march to Volkswagen's entrance in opposition to accepting the company's offer in October 2025. The union has since reached a tentative agreement with the company that workers will vote on in the near future.

By David Floyd February 9, 2026 7 min read

A Volkswagen employee who’s part of an effort to remove the UAW from the company’s Chattanooga plant said he and his coworkers are forging ahead with the push despite the union reaching a tentative agreement on a final contract.

However, the actual level of support for decertification remains murky, particularly as workers prepare to vote on the potential deal.

In order to begin a decertification process for a union, at least 30% of covered workers must sign cards or a petition asking the National Labor Relations Board to conduct a secret ballot election. Unless a majority of the votes cast in that election are in favor of representation, the union is decertified.

The bargaining unit at Volkswagen includes about 3,200 employees, so the petition would need approximately 960 verified signatures to move forward.