President Joe Biden has weighed into the fray over the planned election at Volkswagen Chattanooga on union representation.
In a statement, Biden congratulated workers at the plant seeking a vote to align with the United Auto Workers.
"As one of the world's largest automakers, many Volkswagen plants internationally are unionized," the president said.
(READ MORE: Petition filed for union vote at Volkswagen)
Biden called himself "the most pro-union president in American history," saying "American workers, too, should have a voice at work. The decision whether to join a union belongs to the workers."
Michael W. Lowder, a Volkswagen Group of America spokesperson, said Monday after the company received notice the UAW had filed an election petition that it respects workers' right to a democratic process and to determine who should represent their interests.
"We will fully support (a National Labor Relations Board) vote so every team member has a chance to vote in privacy in this important decision," he said in a statement. "Volkswagen is proud of our working environment in Chattanooga that provides some of the best paying jobs in the area."
In January, UAW President Shawn Fain announced the union's endorsement of Biden for reelection.
That was after Biden joined the picket line amid the UAW's six-week strike during negotiations with the Big Three auto companies -- the first time any active U.S. president had done so.
The UAW on Monday said the petition was filed for a vote by Volkswagen Chattanooga production workers, which would be the third such election at the plant since 2014.
(READ MORE: Third try for UAW at VW)
The union said in a statement the petition was filed with the National Labor Relations Board after "a supermajority" of Volkswagen employees signed union cards in the past 100 days.
The union declined to say if the percent of VW employees who've signed cards hit the 70% mark, which was the threshold the UAW had given for seeking an election to represent workers in bargaining with the company.
The UAW lost elections in 2014 and 2019 by close margins at the plant that produces the Atlas and ID.4 SUVs.
No date for a vote was given Monday. In 2019, a three-day secret ballot vote was held about three to four weeks after the UAW filed a petition.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.