The United Auto
Workers union confirmed Friday that it's in talks with Volkswagen about
representing workers a factory in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The
union said its representatives met with VW officials last week in
Wolfsburg, Germany, to discuss a German-style "works council" at the
plant as well as full UAW representation. A works council would give
workers a say in plant operations.
Currently,
only one U.S. plant owned by foreign automakers has UAW representation, a
Mitsubishi factory in Normal, Ill., with about 1,000 workers. The union
has been trying for years to organize other plants, which mainly are in
southern states.
The prospect of UAW
representation in Chattanooga concerns Southern Republicans, who fear a
UAW foothold in the region will allow it to recruit workers at other
auto plants.
Volkswagen managers told workers
about the talks in a letter on Thursday. Any union representation would
require a vote of the plant's roughly 2,000 full-time blue-collar
workers who make the VW Passat midsize sedan.
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