Thread by @MorePerfectUS

BREAKING: Over 4,000 Volkswagen workers in Tennessee just joined the @UAW in a landslide.

They’re the first American workers to win a union at a non-union car company in decades.

This historic victory will change the auto industry, and the future of American labor.

This isn’t the first time workers at the Chattanooga VW plant have tried to unionize.

Workers tried to organize a union at the Chattanooga factory two previous times — in 2014 and 2019 — and both times they lost by narrow margins.

But this time was different. After the huge wins from the @UAW’s strike at the Big 3, workers at the Chattanooga plant rushed to join the organizing committee.

Then, a supermajority of Volkswagen workers signed union cards in just 100 days.
uaw.org/volkswagen-wor…

According to @LaborNotes interviews with workers, “The main issues at VW are quality health care, retirement security, safety, and paid sick days—currently they get none.”

So it’s no wonder workers just turned out to vote union in overwhelming numbers.
labornotes.org/2024/04/southe…

Today’s historic win could be the first of many.

As @UAW President Shawn Fain recently said: “I firmly believe once the first domino falls, you're going to see the floodgates open. Because people are going to realize the benefit of being in a union.”

thenation.com/article/econom…

And the union is targeting a major sweep of the non-union automakers across the United States.

If they keep winning it’ll change the complexion of both the auto industry and the labor movement.

https://x.com/MorePerfectUS/status/1729954368986763677

Up next is the Mercedes plant in Alabama, where a majority of workers have signed union cards and a vote is scheduled in less than a month.

https://x.com/MorePerfectUS/status/1780956555032367189

Governors across the South are fighting this massive union drive. Alabama is no different:

"In Alabama, the UAW is being opposed by Alabama’s political and business leaders including Gov. Kay Ivey, who has written op-eds denouncing their campaign..."

substack.perfectunion.us/p/breaking-mer…

But when we spoke to workers about politicians interfering, they said they wanted Governors and others to leave them alone.

Thread:

https://x.com/MorePerfectUS/status/1780704283060847083

Now that this first victory is secured, a wave of victories could begin. The @UAW has already won a historic contract after their recent strike. Now, this win at VW sets another historic precedent.