Following their historic vote to join the United Auto Workers in April, workers at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee held a rally on Sunday as they prepare to head into their first round of negotiations with the company next week.
With their vote, the Chattanooga workers became the first Southern automakers not affiliated with one of the Big Three auto companies to win a union.
“Just a few months ago, you voted 3-1 to join the UAW,” the union’s president Shawn Fain told the assembled workers, adding, “You had faith, and you moved mountains, you overcame opposition, and you won your union.”
“With the kinds of profits you’re generating, Volkswagen could double your wages, not raise prices, and still make billions of dollars. It’s a choice.”
At a rally that began at 1:30 pm Eastern Time on Sunday, Fain told gathered workers that they were now ready for the “next step.”
“We tell Volkswagen, get out your pens, because it’s time to put it down in writing,” Fain said.
Heading into negotiations, the UAW is set to make several demands of Volkswagen, among them improved health and safety; competitive wages including cost of living allowances, profit sharing, and no tiers; improved paid-time-off polices; more retirement security; affordable healthcare; and union protections such as due process, union representation, paid time for union work, job training, and fair promotion policies.