In regards to unionization at Volkswagen Chattanooga as this fight draws to end no matter what the outcome I believe we are on the eve a historical occasion. I think that people in America are starting to see the power that joining unions give them. The time we are in now is a period of stagnant wages producing a weak economy with more Americans living in poverty than have since the great depression.
What does this has to do with the Workers at VW you ask? They are well paid, have great benefits, and great working conditions, etc. Well the truth of the matter is that there are things at VW Chattanooga that could use some improvement. Furthermore this moment in history provides a great opportunity for the workers at VW to be part of something more significant than just themselves.
In this time in America when working men and women are as weak as they have ever been a company with a great successful history of giving its workers a voice comes to Chattanooga with a bold plan to build cars in the United States. The labor model that VW uses could be seen as a template to improve labor relations at many companies in the U.S. as well as change our business culture in general.
Of course great change such as this is not met without resistance. As we know political hatchet groups that have been the scourge of many elections in recent memory have surfaced to discredit this great thing which could very well be the beginning of the new labor movement in the U.S.; of which it is no surprise as these shadowy groups are funded by very wealthy and powerful people who have benefited greatly from America's recent economic decline. I think most of the workers at Volkswagen are smart people who see right through these groups' agenda and we know that our choice to join the union and form a works council is the right choice for us and the economic future of our children.
Byron Spencer
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How's it working out for Detroit and all the heavily unionized states in the rust belt? Sure, other things can be blamed, but are they really at the core of the problem?
When companies are left without the capital to modernize they die. Companies today can produce in any country. Our labor market has to be competitive. VW has already closed one U.S. plant in Pennsylvania. They are considering adding another product to the Chattanooga plant. How will this help to add more jobs?
Be careful what you ask for. You just may get it.
Don Moon