Volkswagen accepted the results of the union election at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant in April, with workers voting overwhelmingly to join the United Auto Workers.
The German automaker’s OK Tuesday cleared the path for contract negotiations and setting a standard for other nonunion auto shops in the UAW’s crosshairs.
“Volkswagen and union workers around the world have a long history of successfully building vehicles together, and we are jointly committed to a strong and successful future at Volkswagen Chattanooga with the UAW,” the company said in a joint statement with the union.
Volkswagen could have challenged the results but chose not to.
Chattanooga workers voted 2,628 to 985 to accept UAW representation in the mid-April election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board. By winning the vote, UAW broke its losing streak in the South, where it’s been tough to unionize.
Negotiations between Volkswagen and the UAW will likely start in a couple of weeks when workers at an Alabama Mercedes plant are expected to hold a similar election. Voting in Tuscaloosa is expected to begin May 13 and extend through May 17.