Senator Bob Corker on Monday released the following statement regarding the UAW withdrawing its appeal of February’s election at Chattanooga’s Volkswagen plant:
"This 11th hour reversal by the UAW affirms what we have said all along -- that their objection was nothing more than a sideshow to draw attention away from their stinging loss in Chattanooga. Many have felt the UAW never really wanted another election in the near term because they knew they would lose by an even larger margin, based on widespread knowledge of the UAW's problematic track record throughout the country, which the workers at Volkswagen have been able to see first-hand over recent months. Fortunately, the majority of workers at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant realized they were only dollar signs to the UAW’s self-survival.
"It's a shame the UAW slowed the momentum on our expansion conversations with Volkswagen, but now it's time for VW, our state and our community to re-engage and move forward with bringing additional jobs to Chattanooga."
Senator Lamar Alexander said, “The employees have made their decision. The UAW lost the election. Now the best thing for all concerned is to get back to building cars.”
Mayor Andy Berke said, "Over the last year I have worked hard to bring a second automobile line to Chattanooga. Even after the state withdrew its incentives package, I let Volkswagen know the city of Chattanooga is committed to expanding production here and that our incentives were still available.
"Today, I call upon Governor Haslam to immediately put the state’s prior incentives offer back on the table to bring the SUV jobs to Southeast Tennessee. The first line created over 12,000 jobs in our area. We cannot afford to sit on the sidelines and watch this opportunity go elsewhere."