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The newly elected president of the United Auto Workers local in Chattanooga said Saturday he plans to seek talks soon with Volkswagen plant officials about formally recognizing the union.
“Our purpose is to get recognition,” said Mike Cantrell, who has worked at the VW plant for about three and a half years. “My goal is to move forward with recognition. Then … we’ll start bargaining for a contract.”
Cantrell, 57, who works in the quality department, won a three-person race for the top job at UAW Local 42 on Friday. Balloting took place at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers offices off Bonny Oaks Drive.
The UAW set up the nondues-paying local in Chattanooga in June after losing a February organizing election at the plant by 53 percent to 47 percent. Since June, the UAW officials said a majority of hourly workers have joined the local and they hope VW will recognize the union without another plant vote.