German official vows fight to unionize Chattanooga VW plant is not over

Brandon Gee
Contributing Editor- Nashville Business Journal

The fight to unionize Volkswagen’s factory in Chattanooga is far from over despite the United Auto Workers' narrow defeat in a February election in which workers declined to organize.

Frank Patta, general secretary of Volkswagen’s Global Works Council, has promised to help the UAW continue the push, the Detroit Free Press reports.

The UAW lost the unionization vote even though VW management agreed to be neutral. Patta, speaking at the 36th Annual UAW Constitutional Convention, said German union leaders are determined to create a German-style works council to represent Chattanooga workers.

In related news, Reuters reports that a decision on which VW factory will be chosen to produce a new line of SUVs is being held up as Mexico and Tennessee jockey to present the most attractive incentive package to VW.