Volkswagen (VW) Motors is a German-headquarteredautomobile manufacturer. A common practice inGerman companies is to utilize a “works council,” asupervisory body made up of workers and managerswho consult on business operations. U.S. labor lawsstrictly forbid such worker involvement without theofficial recognition of a labor union. So, the UAW sawan opportunity to organize workers at the VW Chattanooga,Tennessee, plant with the blessing of companymanagement. Since the plant is overseen by Germanleadership, the union felt it would be supported in itsefforts. However, workers at the plant would have thefinal say regarding union representation.VW management did, in fact, seem to be on theUAW’s side and had agreed to allow the union to berecognized based on a card check procedure ratherthan a representation election. The company allowedunion organizers to campaign inside the plant, ahighly unusual move. The labor union in Germany,a “cousin” of the UAW, had pushed for the welcomingposture to the U.S. union. Company and Germanunion officials were highly committed to establishinga works council and felt that allowing the UAW to organizeworkers would allow that process to happen.The company had pledged to remain neutral, butmany of its actions appeared to strongly assist theunion in its efforts. Not all employees at the plantfavored representation by the union, but they weredenied the right to hold meetings or campaign insidethe plant. Such collusion between a company andunion is potentially a
violation of the Taft-HartleyAct. Workers insisted on the right to a secret ballotelection, and the company eventually agreed.In the highly contested battle, workers voted712−626 not to join the UAW. With the undeniablesupport from the company, the UAW couldhardly look for unfair labor practice violations.The vote was clear. Workers prefer dealing directlywith plant management and working withoutlabor union representation. In the weeks andmonths following the election, the UAW initiallyrequested that the NLRB schedule a do-over election.Their contention was that local and state politicianshad swayed workers with a promise of economicbenefits if the workforce remained union free. Theyeventually dropped their request and accepted the novote from the workers.Since the election, the UAW has established an“American-style works council,” a nonbargaining-unitlocal of the union. The group will meet with companyrepresentatives to discuss workplace issues but willnot be empowered to negotiate a contract. The UAWremains hopeful that this works council will serve asa jumping off point for a full-fledged union in thefuture.74Questions1. Under what circumstances might a companyside with a union in its attempt to organize employees?How would you, as an employee, feel ifyour employer supported you joining a union?2. What role should politicians and lawmakers playin union votes such as the one in Chattanooga?Do lawmakers have a vested interest in the successof businesses within their legislative territory?