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VW workers may block southern U.S. deals if no unions: labor chief
Reuters ^ | Wed Feb 19, 2014 6:38am EST | Andreas Cremer

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Travel
KEYWORDS: tennessee; uaw; volkswagen; workscouncil
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To: Olog-hai
I have avoided UAW made cars since 1990.I just bought a German car a few weeks ago and VW was a strong contender.If they go union here I promise VW that they'll never be on my short list again.My driveway is,always will be,and has been for decades,a UAW free zone.
61 posted on 02/20/2014 4:00:04 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (Obama: "I can do whatever I want")
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To: Gen.Blather

Lied? A car salesman? Can’t trust anyone anymore, I guess.

(the guy who sold me my Chattanooga-built Passat told me at least 3 times that it was manufactured in Germany).

Anyways, the Puebla plant is a union shop, but I don’t think it’s UAW.


62 posted on 02/20/2014 4:04:28 PM PST by Conscience of a Conservative
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To: Gen.Blather

>> Then the salesman lied as he said it was here.

If a car salesman told me the sky was blue, I’d go outside and see for myself.


63 posted on 02/20/2014 4:04:31 PM PST by Nervous Tick (Without GOD, men get what they deserve.)
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To: amnestynone

Yes but still fun to drive. Zoom,Zoom!


64 posted on 02/20/2014 4:15:56 PM PST by crazydad (Obamamohamed is a traitor)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I drive a VW. It may be because I am weird, but I don’t see the point of your hateful generalization.


65 posted on 02/20/2014 4:18:00 PM PST by OldNukeDaddy
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To: Riley; All

“I can imagine fairly well that another VW factory in the United States, provided that one more should still be set up there, does not necessarily have to be assigned to the south again,” said Bernd Osterloh, head of VW’s works council.

“If co-determination isn’t guaranteed in the first place, we as workers will hardly be able to vote in favor” of potentially building another plant in the U.S. south, Osterloh, who is also on VW’s supervisory board, said.
....
Osterloh’s comments were published on Wednesday in German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung. A spokesman at the Wolfsburg-based works council confirmed the remarks.

“The conservatives stirred up massive, anti-union sentiments,” Osterloh said. “It’s possible that the conclusion will be drawn that this interference amounted to unfair labor praxis.”

I had heard about this comment from VW in Germany so I wrote the letter.


66 posted on 02/20/2014 4:19:28 PM PST by Linda Frances (Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.)
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To: cherry

And they don’t have any corruption? Come on. They taught it to us.


67 posted on 02/20/2014 5:07:38 PM PST by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

On the other hand - other car manufacturers - indeed, other manufacturere, period, may sse going to GA as a big NON-Union PLUS....

Hang tough


68 posted on 02/20/2014 5:08:24 PM PST by maine-iac7 (Christian is as Christian does - by their fruits)
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To: alloysteel

The Third Reich didn’t call it the Volkswagen. That entity called it the KdF-Wagen.


69 posted on 02/20/2014 5:09:08 PM PST by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

Then form your own independent union that isn’t a bunch of political BS. The UAW killed us in Michigan.


70 posted on 02/20/2014 5:10:20 PM PST by Darren McCarty (Abortion - legalized murder for convenience)
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To: melsec

You don’t want the social market economy in the USA. No need to go there. Bad enough that the liberals are trying to bring it over piecemeal.


71 posted on 02/20/2014 5:10:31 PM PST by Olog-hai
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To: OldNukeDaddy
I heard it from the Magliozzi brothers on NPR's "Car Talk."

They said that only wierdos drive VWs. Who am I to doubt them?

72 posted on 02/20/2014 6:29:59 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Islam is a religion of peace, and Moslems reserve the right to behead anyone who says otherwise.)
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To: Olog-hai

Heck no - you are in debt enough already without that! German companies, on the whole, seem to have a less adversarial Industrial Relations system that has served them and their economy well for a log time. It is peculiar to them as their obsession with quality has allowed their companies to charge a premium for their goods. The gap however has gotten a lot closer over the years so their advantage in this area has mostly been swallowed up yet people still, for awhile at least, continue to buy from them on reputation alone - I wonder how much longer that will continue and I wonder what will happen to their IR then?


73 posted on 02/20/2014 6:48:53 PM PST by melsec (Once a Jolly Swagman camped by a Billabong.)
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To: melsec

Germany dominates in the non-consumer market in many areas along with Japan. They are doing huge business with China.

Most of business is B to B and is something consumers never see.


74 posted on 02/20/2014 7:52:21 PM PST by sunrise_sunset
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