Six Republican governors are condemning efforts by the United Auto Employees to arrange automobile factories of their states, a flash level because the labor group tries to construct on its success final 12 months successful concessions from the Massive Three automakers by making inroads within the traditionally union-averse South.
“We now have a accountability to our constituents to talk up once we see particular pursuits seeking to come into our state and threaten our jobs and the values we dwell by,” the governors of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas mentioned Tuesday in a joint assertion.
The governors spoke out in opposition to the UAW a day earlier than 4,300 Volkswagen employees in Chattanooga, Tenn., are set to begin voting on whether or not to affix the union. The manufacturing facility is Volkswagen’s North American electric-vehicle meeting hub, the place the UAW narrowly misplaced union votes in 2014 and 2019. Employees on the plant will solid ballots from Wednesday by way of Friday night.
Volkswagen has mentioned it respects the employees’ proper to vote on whether or not to affix the UAW. However the governors who criticized the union drive mentioned “we don’t have to pay a 3rd get together to inform us who can decide up a field or flip a change,” whereas additionally framing the marketing campaign as a transfer to assist President Joe Biden’s reelection marketing campaign.
The UAW, which has endorsed President Biden’s reelection bid, declined to remark.
The UAW within the fall negotiated document contracts for 150,000 employees at Common Motors, Ford and Chrysler-parent Stellantis, whereas some nonunion factories additionally subsequently introduced pay will increase for employees. After main a six-week strike on the corporations, UAW President Shawn Fain final fall vowed to arrange nonunion corporations throughout the trade, from overseas automakers with U.S. operations to electrical car makers like Tesla.
In November, VW gave employees an 11% pay elevate on the Chattanooga plant, however the UAW mentioned VW’s pay nonetheless lags behind the Detroit automakers. High meeting plant employees in Chattanooga make $32.40 per hour, VW mentioned.
The UAW pacts with Detroit automakers included 25% pay raises by the point the contracts finish in April of 2028. With cost-of-living will increase, employees will see about 33% in raises for a high meeting wage of $42 per hour, plus annual revenue sharing.
The union can be gaining floor in different southern states, with the UAW saying in February {that a} majority of employees at a Mercedes plant close to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, have signed playing cards in assist of becoming a member of the labor group.
