Posted on 02/20/2014 1:44:36 PM PST by Olog-hai
Volkswagen’s top labor representative threatened on Wednesday to try to block further investments by the German carmaker in the southern United States if its workers there are not unionized.
Workers at VW’s factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, last Friday voted against representation by the United Auto Workers union (UAW), rejecting efforts by VW representatives to set up a German-style works council at the plant.
German workers enjoy considerable influence over company decisions under the legally enshrined “co-determination” principle which is anathema to many politicians in the U.S. who see organized labor as a threat to profits and job growth. …
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
I would never buy a VW, union or not.
What, now the owners of the company are going to force people to join a union?
I don’t see that flying in any right to work state.
I can understand a Kombi and even a Schwimmwagen, but a Pookie? WOW! Those ‘yoots’ in DC have become VERY sophisticated!
Actually, I like it more for the widespread puzzlement it’d cause. Probably getting great mileage is an added bonus.
“Hence they can stop VW from putting any more plants in the South if they don’t like the outcome of this election.”
Well, sucks to be them, then. In the meantime, Toyota and Hyundai can keep making (more relialble than VW) cars with their hard-working, relatively content US workers. I don’t see a problem here.
Diesel and heating oil used primarily in the NE are essentially the same product.
as the next dictator, I’d tell VW to go home; there are more than enough world automakers who would take over their Chattanooga plant
Both the Schwimmwagen and the Pookie would a little chilly in the winter!
Fair point. I'd consideration of that, I'd ridiculously over-engineer the cab climate control.
>> Hence they can stop VW from putting any more plants in the South
Won’t stop Nissan, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai...
Suck it, Volkswagen. Go ahead and lose to your right-thinking competition. After all, you’re not a business so much as a social welfare org.
“Unions by law have representation on corporate boards in Germany.”
They do NOT have representation on the Corporate Board of Directors, but on a separate “Works Council.”
It is advisory only. But Europe goes about the business, without the adversarial relationship typified by unions and management in the US.
I think this is called tortious interference, and is illegal.
Hate to burst your bubble, but your Jetta TDI Sportwagen was almost certainly made using union labor. Those cars are built primarily in the Puebla, Mexico factory, which is a union shop.
“Hate to burst your bubble, but your Jetta TDI Sportwagen was almost certainly made using union labor.”
Nope. Bubble still intact. My plant code is “10.” North America. (I asked the salesman, but he did get a few other details wrong, so I checked the VIN.)
No violent opposition will be seen simply because of the Drones hovering overhead with Hellfire missiles at the ready.
Funny how this is on top of the liberals agenda when Nissan in Smyrna, TN has voted down the UAW every other year for over 20 years.
Yes, the car was made in North America. Mexico, to be precise.
The Chattanooga plant only manufactures one vehicle - the Passat. The Jetta is manufactured in the Puebla plant.
“The Jetta is manufactured in the Puebla plant.”
Then the salesman lied as he said it was here. But he also didn’t know it had the GTI suspension or that you could only use VW certified oil or it would destroy the injectors. So, is Mexico union? My biggest concern was not adding to the UAW’s power.
Maybe, VW just shouldn't produce in the U.S.. They abandoned their first effort [Pennsylvania, I think?] in the seventies. Was glad to see them come back, but as much as I admire the Germans, VW's management can stuff it.
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