The results of the recent vote will require official National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) certification. Following this, Volkswagen will need to commence negotiations with the United Auto Workers (UAW) over pay and working conditions. Volkswagen expressed appreciation for the Chattanooga workers’ participation in the election in a statement released on Friday.
There is optimism among workers that this victory will have a wider impact in empowering workers across the region. The sentiment among the workers is one of defiance against the notion that positive change cannot be achieved in Chattanooga. The successful outcome of the vote has generated hope that it will pave the way for similar victories for workers in other locations.
The Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga currently has around 4,300 employees, signaling the potential impact of the UAW’s victory on a substantial workforce.