Mexican Media Brands
VW May Invite UAW to Organize Tennessee Plant
Volkswagen AG has held discussions with the United Auto Workers union about setting up a Germany-style works council at its assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., which would entail unionizing the facility’s workforce.Human resources chief Horst Neumann tells reporters that VW may propose such a plant in April or May.
#labor
Share
Volkswagen AG has held discussions with the United Auto Workers union about setting up a Germany-style works council at its assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., which would entail unionizing the facility’s workforce.
Human resources chief Horst Neumann tells reporters that VW may propose such a plant in April or May. If the company’s supervisory board approves, labor negotiations could start as early as the second half of this year. The UAW would be the “natural partner,” Neumann adds.
UAW President Bob King has made organizing the U.S. plants of foreign carmakers a top priority. The union has been struggling to make headway at Japanese-owned factories. But it has established ties to Germany’s IG Metall union.
Under the German system, a company negotiates a national agreement with its union or unions. Works councils are elected by the workers at each plant to bargain with management about adapting that pact at the local level.
Establishing a works council in the U.S. without a union could cause legal trouble for VW, according to Neumann.
He says he isn’t sure if the UAW wants to adopt the system because it would require the union to cede some control over pay, benefits and working conditions.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Engineering the 2019 Jeep Cherokee
The Jeep Cherokee, which was launched in its current manifestation as a model year 2014 vehicle, and which has just undergone a major refresh for MY 2019, is nothing if not a solid success.
-
Mustang Changes for 2018
On Tuesday Ford unveiled—using the social media channels of actor Dwayne Johnson (this has got to unnerve some of the auto buff book editors)—the 2018 Mustang, which has undergone some modifications: under the hood (the 3.7-liter V6 is giving way to a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four, and a 10-speed automatic is available), on the dash (a 12-inch, all-digital LCD screen is available for the dashboard), at the tires (12 wheel choices), on the chassis (MagneRide damper technology is being offered with the Mustang Performance Package), and on the exterior (three new paint colors). And while on the subject of the exterior, there are some notable changes—a lower, remodeled hood, repositioned hood vents, new upper and lower front grilles, LED front lights, revised LED taillamps, new rear bumper and fascia.
-
Things to Know About Cam Grinding
By James Gaffney, Product Engineer, Precision Grinding and Patrick D. Redington, Manager, Precision Grinding Business Unit, Norton Company (Worcester, MA)
