NASHVILLE - Gov. Bill Haslam said Tuesday the "timing isn't great" for maintenance workers at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant to pursue a new election on exclusive representation by the United Auto Workers given the German manufacturer's struggles with a world-wide diesel-emissions cheating scandal.
"Obviously, Volkswagen is struggling with a lot of issues right now," the Republican governor told reporters today. "It feels like to me the right time is for everybody to focus on addressing issues that VW has had and then turning around to producing great cars."
The UAW last week sought a new election at the Chattanooga assembly plant for the UAW to represent 164 full- and part-time maintenance or "skilled trades" employees working at the facility. In February 2014, a larger group of workers at the plant voted 712-626 against the union.
Under a filing with the National Labor Relations Board, the UAW is seeking to hold the two-day election Nov. 5 and 6.
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Asked by reporters when would be a good time for a union, Haslam, who opposed the UAW's effort last year, said "while there's obviously a time for that discussion, it doesn't feel like this is the appropriate time. I think most people would say Volkswagen has some has some major issues to address. Let's get those addressed first."
The National Right to Work Foundation said Tuesday that the UAW's call for an election at the plant is a "push to impose monopoly unionization on workers." In a statement, Mark Mix, the foundation's president, criticized the two weeks between the time UAW Local 42 requested an election and the planned vote.
"With the National Labor Relations Board's new ambush election rules now in effect, events are expected to move rapidly, with an election possible in less than two weeks, which unfortunately may not be enough time for some VW team members to fully debate and discuss everything that is at stake," Mix said.
But Mike Cantrell, president of UAW Local 42, termed to the foundation's statement "the same kind of Washington-style scare tactics that we saw nearly two years ago when out-of-state interests tainted our local election."
"To be clear: The only employees who would pay dues to Local 42 are those who choose to join the local union. Furthermore, no dues would take effect until our members reach an employment contract with the company. Finally, no dues will fund political activities. Period. Looking ahead, we hope this national group will stay out of our employee business in Chattanooga and stop spreading misinformation," said Cantrell.
Mix said the NLRB's rushed election process is particularly unfortunate in Chattanooga, because if union bosses are successful in this vote, it will be the first step towards their stated goal of gaining exclusive, monopoly power over the entire workforce.
"Moreover, if the UAW becomes the monopoly bargaining representative, workers it 'represents' may be forced to pay full union dues to vote on union officers or ratification of the contract. This includes the portion of dues that covers union political activities, often for controversial causes and candidates," Mix said.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.