UAW President Shawn Fain speaks during a union rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The United Auto Workers rallied Sunday as the union prepares to negotiate its first labor contract at Volkswagen AG’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“We have an army of people behind you,” union president Shawn Fain told the rally in Chattanooga. “You will get the best in this fight, that is my commitment to you.”
Workers at Tennessee plant vote to be represented by Detroit-based union in April. The vote followed earlier unsuccessful attempts by the UAW to organize the business.
The message of Sunday’s rally was a more difficult task ahead with contract talks.
“The fight for the future is not easy,” said Chuck Browning, UAW vice president. “It’s going to take everything we’ve got” to secure a contract.
“These Volkswagen negotiations will be tough,” he added. “But we’re tougher.”
A year ago, Fain led a strike against factories at General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and of Stellantis. The union targeted key factories that generate much of the profits at all three companies.
The new contracts at the automakers were ratified in November. The agreements called for a 25 percent wage increase and return of cost-of-living adjustments as well as commitments to future electric vehicle projects, among other gains for union members.
The results followed concessions dating back to the 2000s, when GM and Chrysler (now part of Stellantis) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and were bailed out by the US government.
Fain now wants the UAW to organize other auto plants without union representation. U.S. plants owned by Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., among others. and at Nissan Motor Co., they are not unions.
Organizing the UAW at Volkswagen was a breakthrough. However, workers at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, Alabama voted against the union in May.
Additionally, there is tension between Stellantis and the UAW. The union accused Stellantis of reneging on commitments he made to settle last year’s strike. Last week, Stellantis said it would spend more than $406 million on three Michigan plants to make electric vehicles and battery components.
At Sunday’s rally, Fain said the UAW will seek wage gains, more affordable health insurance and health and safety improvements. The union leader said pay at Volkswagen should be comparable to compensation for workers at GM, Ford and Stellantis.
“Any car job can be a good job,” Fain said.
“You are the backbone of this plant, you are the backbone of this company,” he added. “Volkswagen could double your wages, not raise prices, and make billions of dollars.”
