Press Statement Christiane Benner on the outcome of the election for an employee representative body at VW in Chattanooga

“We are delighted for our colleagues at VW in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and congratulate them on their election of a workers’ representative body through the United Auto Workers (UAW). They voted in favor of this by a large majority, thereby overcoming the undesirable influence of politicians and anti-union groups. The company maintained neutrality at the plant.
The employees’ courage, patience, and perseverance have been rewarded. We now look forward with anticipation to the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations and hope that the positive signal sent by this election will encourage other workers in the region to exercise their right to organize.”

Further information:
IG Metall takes a clear stance: All employees have the right to form or join unions or employee representative bodies. We have also supported these efforts at the plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
IG Metall is a member of IndustriAll Global Union, which also supports the UAW and has shown its solidarity on the picket lines during past labor disputes. The organizations are in regular contact and are confident of their mutual support.
IG Metall will continue to support our colleagues in Chattanooga together with the Global Works Council at VW.