UAW rival at Volkswagen plant asks employees to vote 'no'

Election results due later today

The UAW logo is displayed on the podium at a news conference held Thursday, July 10, 2014, at the IBEW Local 175 in Chattanooga, Tenn., to announce the formation of a new local United Auto Workers' union in Chattanooga for Volkswagen workers.
The UAW logo is displayed on the podium at a news conference held Thursday, July 10, 2014, at the IBEW Local 175 in Chattanooga, Tenn., to announce the formation of a new local United Auto Workers' union in Chattanooga for Volkswagen workers.
photo Workers assemble Volkswagen Passat sedans at the German automaker's plant in Chattanooga. Workers at Volkswagen's only U.S. factory will decide in February 2014 whether to be represented by the United Auto Workers union.

UAW vote results

› Voting ends at 8:30 p.m. today and the results are expected to be released by the National Labor Relations Board shortly thereafter. While VW indicated it plans to ask the NLRB to review the decision to hold the election, the request hadn’t been filed as of early Thursday. Absent both a request for a review and that ballots be impounded, the votes will be counted and results certified. VW can request the NLRB review the case for 14 days after final disposition, the agency said.

A rival to the United Auto Workers at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant has called on employees to vote no on the UAW's organizing effort in a two-day election that ends today.

"When all of the facts are examined, it is clear that the UAW is not the right choice for Volkswagen or Chattanooga," said David Reed, president of the American Council of Employees.

Reed, in a letter to production workers, said the majority of employees agree that dividing the workforce into small sub-groups is incompatible with the company's "one team" philosophy and will have a negative impact on the quality and security of plant jobs.

"Unlike the UAW, ACE is focused on only one thing - maintaining high wages and a quality workplace for all Volks- wagen team members," Reed said. "Breaking the workforce into smaller and smaller groups weakens employees and undermines everything we are trying to achieve."

The UAW is seeking to organize 164 maintenance, or skilled trades, workers at the plant for collective bargaining purposes.

In February 2014, the UAW lost a vote of blue-collar workers, including production employees, by a margin of 712 to 626. It filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for the new election, which is being fought by VW. The automaker said it would like to see a vote of the full production unit.

Mike Cantrell, president of UAW Local 42 in Chattanooga, said the union's goal always has been - and still is - moving toward collective bargaining for the the purpose of reaching a multi-year contract between Volkswagen and employees in Chattanooga.

"There are multiple paths to collective bargaining, and this is a step in the right direction," he said in an earlier statement.

ACE reported this year it has 381 members among both hourly and salaried workers at the Chattanooga factory, according to a U.S. Department of Labor filing.

By contrast, the UAW said it had 816 members among the hourly workers alone. That's about 55 percent of the blue-collar workforce.

Reed said the timing of the UAW election is inappropriate due to the emission scandal in which the company is embroiled.

"We need unity now more than ever," he said. "The company needs our support to overcome some very significant challenges. "

Reed said the timing of the "ambush election amounts to the UAW kicking us while we are down, and puts all our jobs at risk."

ACE presented a number of "unanswered" questions.

"What voice, if any, will other Local 42 members have if the UAW becomes the exclusive representative of such a small number of employees?" the letter said. It also asked what influence does German union IG Metall's partnership with UAW have, and how will its pledge to keep production jobs in Germany impact the plant.

Reed said ACE stands for setting up an "effective, local works council model" capable of communicating directly with the VW Global Works Council.

Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.

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