American Support for Volkswagen Workers
President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have come out in full support of workers at Volkswagen‘s Chattanooga assembly plant endeavoring to join the United Auto Workers (UAW) union.
Standing Up for Workers’ Rights: In a statement, Biden, known as the most pro-union president in American history, emphasized the importance of American workers having a say in their workplaces. He highlighted how numerous Volkswagen plants internationally have union representation and underlined the need for U.S. workers to have a similar voice.
The Chattanooga plant, employing over 4,000 autoworkers, stands as Volkswagen’s sole U.S. assembly plant without employee representation. The UAW has attempted to represent auto workers at the plant twice in the past decade, in 2014 and 2019.
Sanders echoed Biden’s sentiments, expressing solidarity with the thousands of Volkswagen workers in Tennessee who exercised their right to a union election. He urged Volkswagen to respect its pro-union workers, drawing parallels to the treatment of workers in Germany and other countries.
Impact and Significance
Relevance and Momentum: Sanders has previously advocated for unionizing non-union workers at major automakers, including Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, and more. He emphasized the crucial role of a robust trade union movement in expanding and strengthening the middle class.
Biden’s participation in supporting UAW’s striking workers against the Detroit Three and seeking votes from union members reflects his commitment to workers’ rights within the automotive industry.
The outcome of the unionization efforts at Volkswagen could set a precedent and impact UAW’s progress at other automakers, playing a pivotal role in achieving its organizational objectives.
Market Response
Financial Implications: Volkswagen’s shares (VWAGY) closed 2.5% higher at $14.72 following the news, indicating a positive market response to the developments.
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