Chattanooga, Tennessee saw a significant milestone as employees at a Volkswagen factory voted overwhelmingly to join the United Auto Workers union. In a historic first for the UAW’s renewed organizing efforts at nonunion factories, the union secured 73% of the votes cast, with 2,628 in favor and only 985 against, in an election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board.

Both parties now have five business days to raise objections to the election, after which the results will be certified, mandating VW and the union to engage in bargaining in good faith. President Joe Biden, who garnered UAW support, applauded the union’s victory as part of a broader trend of union triumphs across various industries.

The victory marks a significant turnaround for the UAW at the Chattanooga plant, where workers had previously rejected union membership in recent years. The new leadership of the UAW, led by President Shawn Fain, is committed to addressing past scandals and taking a more assertive stance with automakers, resulting in successful strikes and lucrative contracts with Detroit’s major automakers.

Notably, the new contracts have seen substantial wage increases for union workers, setting a precedent for potential gains at other companies, including Volkswagen. The overwhelming victory in Chattanooga signals a potential shift towards unionization in nonunion manufacturers, prompting a strong response from anti-union politicians and nonunion companies.

Following the ratification of contracts in Detroit, Volkswagen and other nonunion companies implemented significant pay raises for their workers. In response, VW elevated production worker pay by 11%, with top wages reaching $32.40 per hour. Comparatively, top production workers at GM now earn $36 per hour, indicative of growing demands for higher wages in the industry.

The historic decision to join the UAW at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga signifies a new chapter in labor relations in the South. While it may not be the first union auto assembly plant in the region, it does mark a significant step towards increased union representation in foreign-owned automaking plants.

The UAW’s successful organizing efforts at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant are a testament to the shifting landscape of labor relations in the automotive industry, with implications for workers’ rights and economic progress. The move reflects a growing momentum towards unionization, signaling potential changes in labor practices and worker benefits in the future.