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Thirteen billboards, one paint-shop worker helped defeat union at VW plant in Chattanooga
Yahoo News ^ | 22 Feb 2014 | Kevin Drawbaugh and Nick Carey

Posted on 02/22/2014 3:44:45 PM PST by mandaladon

WASHINGTON/CHATTANOOGA (Reuters) - In the aftermath of the United Auto Workers' crushing defeat in a vote to represent workers at Volkswagen's sole U.S. factory, a key question remains unanswered: did conservative politicians and anti-union groups work together to stymie the union?

In an appeal to the National Labor Relations Board on Friday, the UAW said there was a "coordinated effort" by state politicians, anti-union groups and Tennessee's U.S. Senator Bob Corker to coerce a no vote in the February 12-14 election.

The union's NLRB filing offered scant detail to support the allegation, and Reuters interviews with more than a dozen players over the past week also provide no evidence of close contacts either between the politicians and the groups or among the groups themselves.

However, through the interviews a more complete picture emerges of how at least five national organizations and one grassroots group - all apparently operating independently - mounted a formidable threat to the UAW and helped thwart what many initially viewed as the favorite to win the election.

How that loose coalition was able to help defeat the UAW could provide a blueprint for conservative groups to oppose the union as it presses on with its campaign for representation in its first foreign-owned auto plant in the U.S. South.

Central to the anti-union effort in Chattanooga, Tennessee was an attempt to win not just the hearts and minds of auto workers but also those of their friends and families.

The UAW ran a fairly traditional campaign: meeting workers, distributing fliers and running radio ads. Anti-union forces, who were not allowed to campaign at the plant, waged war outside. Throughout Chattanooga, they held town hall meetings, launched anti-UAW websites, wrote numerous op-ed opinion pieces and radio ads, and put up billboards.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: chattanooga; obama; tennesee; tennessee; uaw; uniions; unions; volkswagen
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"The various billboards weren't just to make sure that everyone driving to the plant would see them but also so that everybody in town would see them," said Norquist.

One billboard linked the UAW to Democratic President Barack Obama, whose national approval ratings are dismally low, and another to the demise of auto hub Detroit, which filed the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history last July.......................Smart move.

1 posted on 02/22/2014 3:44:45 PM PST by mandaladon
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To: mandaladon
Patterson was one of the featured speakers at an anti-union town hall last July in Chattanooga. The event was organized by Mark West, head of the Chattanooga Tea Party, and his neighbor Don Jackson, former head of VW's Chattanooga plant.......................Tea Party helped defeat the Union goons...excellent news.
2 posted on 02/22/2014 3:47:41 PM PST by mandaladon (If you're going through hell, keep going. ~Winston Churchill)
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To: mandaladon

I haven’t followed this as much as I should have perhaps.

But maybe these workers are the “Free Agents” the Obamatron is referring to?


3 posted on 02/22/2014 3:51:37 PM PST by bigheadfred
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To: mandaladon

Blame Obama for the demise of some unions.


4 posted on 02/22/2014 3:53:03 PM PST by Huskrrrr
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To: mandaladon

5 posted on 02/22/2014 3:54:28 PM PST by 4Liberty (Optimal institutions - optimal economy.)
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To: mandaladon

“Hey, what the-—only OUR side is allowed to organize!!! That’s not FAAAIIIIRRRRR!!!!!”


6 posted on 02/22/2014 3:55:37 PM PST by _longranger81
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To: mandaladon

“One billboard linked the UAW to Democratic President Barack Obama, whose national approval ratings are dismally low, and another to the demise of auto hub Detroit, which filed the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history ...”

Imagine if romney would have done that instead of going around telling everyone what a nice guy zero was.


7 posted on 02/22/2014 3:55:40 PM PST by Reddy (bo stinks)
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To: mandaladon

There were also a few editorials written by a UAW worker named Terry Bowman warning them against unionizing. (He’s considering a run for the John Dingell seat here in Michigan)

http://www.beacontn.org/2014/02/unionized-plant-not-in-best-interest-of-workers-community/


8 posted on 02/22/2014 3:59:34 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: mandaladon

Did they forget to link the photos of the billboards or did I miss them?


9 posted on 02/22/2014 4:03:51 PM PST by icwhatudo (Low taxes and less spending in Sodom and Gomorrah is not my idea of a conservative victory)
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To: icwhatudo

10 posted on 02/22/2014 4:08:23 PM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: mandaladon

Bless those people. They had no financial reason to convince others against the uaw. There still are lots of great people in this country


11 posted on 02/22/2014 4:09:08 PM PST by BRL
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To: icwhatudo

12 posted on 02/22/2014 4:10:44 PM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: mandaladon

13 posted on 02/22/2014 4:13:16 PM PST by Teacher317 (We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men)
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To: smokingfrog

Thanks!


14 posted on 02/22/2014 4:13:27 PM PST by icwhatudo (Low taxes and less spending in Sodom and Gomorrah is not my idea of a conservative victory)
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To: smokingfrog

Nice use of the Packard Plant.


15 posted on 02/22/2014 4:17:00 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: smokingfrog

Oh that is awesome!!!


16 posted on 02/22/2014 4:22:27 PM PST by capydick (''Life's tough.......it's even tougher if you're stupid.'')
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To: mandaladon

It will be very interesting to see how the nobama bought-and-paid-for NRLB will twist this in favor of the UAW.

Whole lotta twistin’ goin’ on :)


17 posted on 02/22/2014 4:23:18 PM PST by upchuck (South Carolina Representative Trey Gowdy for Speaker of the House!!!)
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To: Paladin2
Right-to-Workers .. Just imagine...

Some day your automobile factory could look like this!


18 posted on 02/22/2014 4:24:22 PM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: smokingfrog
Here's a pic taken inside the top floor "studio".


19 posted on 02/22/2014 4:38:43 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: mandaladon

The NLRB - now there’s an independent body! /sarc


20 posted on 02/22/2014 4:41:19 PM PST by I am Richard Brandon (center)
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