Chattanooga Volkswagen workers file petition to join United Auto Workers so they can bargain like other VW employees

Volkswagen employees work beneath vehicles moving down the assembly line at the Volkswagen Plant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

By Mike Pare April 9, 2019 5 min read

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VW Chattanooga

A Volkswagen employee smooths out welds on a car going down the assembly line at the Volkswagen Plant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Volkswagen employs more than 3,200 people at the plant.

at the Volkswagen Plant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Vehicles move down the assembly line at the Volkswagen Plant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

A Volkswagen employee works beneath the body of a vehicle as it moves down the assembly line at the Volkswagen Plant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Volkswagen employees work beneath a vehicle moving down the assembly line at the Volkswagen Plant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Volkswagen employees work around vehicles moving down the assembly line at the Volkswagen Plant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Volkswagen employees perform checks as vehicles move down the assembly line at the Volkswagen Assembly Plant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Each vehicle goes through variety of inspections before reaching the end of the assembly line.

A Volkswagen employee walks around the outside of a vehicle inspecting different parts at the Volkswagen Assembly Plant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

A Volkswagen employee inspects items in the trunk of a vehicle at the Volkswagen Assembly Plant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

A Volkswagen employee change his tool while working on vehicles in the assembly line at the Volkswagen Assembly Plant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Volkswagen employees work around vehicles as they move down the assembly line at the Volkswagen Assembly Plant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Volkswagen employees work around a car on the assembly line at the Volkswagen Plant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Volkswagen employs more than 3,200 people at the plant.

For the third time in about five years, some Volkswagen plant workers in Chattanooga are seeking an election to align with the United Auto Workers.

“It’s pressure from the workers,” said Steve Cochran, president of UAW Local 42 in Chattanooga, about why the election petition was filed Tuesday with the National Labor Relations Board.

TIMELINE

* February 2014: United Auto Workers loses vote at VW Chattanooga plant by 712 to 626* July: UAW sets up Local 42 in Chattanooga* December 2015: VW skilled trades employees vote 108 to 44 to align with UAW; VW refuses to bargain with micro-union* April 2016: National Labor Relations Board issues complaint against VW for unfair labor practices for refusing to bargain* September: VW appeals to U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals* December 2017: NLRB reverses decision on micro-unions and gets case back from appeals court to reconsider it.* April 2019: New union election is sought by VW production and skilled trades workers at Chattanooga plant

The petition said that at least 30 percent of the 1,709 production, skilled trades and other employees making up the proposed election unit have turned over cards seeking representation by the UAW.

The petition seeks to hold the election April 29 and 30 at the Chattanooga factory.