NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A top Republican in the Tennessee General Assembly expects his colleagues to approve the state share of a $300 million incentive package for Volkswagen despite misgivings over a “secret deal” for the United Auto Workers union at the German automaker’s plant in Chattanooga.
House Republican leader Gerald McCormick of Chattanooga said Tuesday that while he understands some of his colleagues’ concerns about the union’s growing role at the plant, he doesn’t want to backtrack on deal struck by Gov. Bill Haslam last summer that is leading to a 2,000-job expansion at the factory.
“The state of Tennessee will keep its promises, and the Legislature will help the state keep its promises that that were made to Volkswagen,” McCormick said.
The UAW narrowly lost a union election at the plant in last February, but Volkswagen has since created a labor policy that guarantees regular interaction with management and access to meeting space within the plant to unions sign up at least 15 percent of workers. The UAW last month qualified for the top tier of the labor policy by showing it had signed up at least 45 percent of workers at the plant.
While the new policy does not address exclusive bargaining rights, several Chattanooga-area Republicans have grumbled about approving incentives for Volkswagen.