CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.—The United Auto Workers (UAW) filed federal Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against Volkswagen, accusing the German automaker of illegally undermining union negotiations at its Chattanooga assembly plant—just one year after workers scored a historic victory by voting to join the union.
The charge, filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), said Volkswagen violated U.S. labor law by unilaterally announcing plans to cut a production shift without first bargaining with the UAW.
The move, the union said, threatens hundreds of jobs at the only Volkswagen plant in the U.S. where workers recently unionized—a milestone in the labor movement’s push to organize the anti-union South.
Betrayal after victory
Last April, Chattanooga’s Volkswagen workers voted overwhelmingly—2,628-985—to join the UAW, marking the union’s first major organizing win at a foreign-owned auto plant in the South. The victory came after two failed attempts in 2014 and 2019, overcoming fierce opposition from Republican governors, corporate lobbyists, and anti-union consultants.
Workers celebrated the win as a chance to secure the same union wages and benefits UAW members at the Big 3 (Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis) won in their 2023 Stand Up Strike—including 25% raises, ending of tiered wages, cost of living adjustments, improved retirement benefits, and protections against plant closures.
But instead of negotiating in good faith, the union now says Volkswagen is stonewalling at the bargaining table while preparing to slash jobs.
“Volkswagen is the number two auto manufacturer in the world, yet the vast majority of VW workers in the U.S. report experiencing extreme financial hardship from VW’s failure to meet the same standards on health insurance that less profitable, U.S.-based union auto manufacturers offer,” the union said. “That ends now.”
Profits over workers
The ULP charges come just days after Volkswagen reported $20 billion in profits for 2024, making it the second most profitable auto company in the world. Yet, rather than reinvest the profits back into the workers, the corporation looks to shift production to Mexico where it can super-exploit the auto workers there—paying them as little as $7 an hour to build vehicles sold for tens of thousands of dollars in America.
“Volkswagen is exploiting cheap labor in Mexico,” UAW President Shawn Fain said in a fiery statement. “Now, they want to cut shifts in Tennessee right before expected auto tariffs take effect—trying to dodge accountability while still cashing in.”
The UAW has notified the Trump administration of what it calls Volkswagen’s “anti-union, anti-worker, and anti-American” conduct. The union argues the company’s sudden move to reduce shifts is retaliation for workers organizing—a violation of federal labor law, which requires employers to bargain over major workplace changes. Whether or not the Trump administration, (who) which is notoriously anti-union, will respond on behalf of the workers and their union is questionable.
Pattern of union busting
This isn’t the first time Volkswagen faced accusations of union busting in Chattanooga. During last year’s organizing drive, the UAW filed multiple NLRB complaints, alleging the corporation:
- Held captive-audience meetings to pressure workers against unionizing.
- Spread misinformation about the “risks” of joining the UAW.
- Allowed anti-union consultants to harass pro-union employees.
Now, with contract negotiations stalled, workers fear the company is deliberately dragging out talks while planning layoffs.
“We voted for the union because we wanted fair pay, safety protections, and job security,” said Victor Vaughn, a Volkswagen worker and union organizer. “Instead, the company is trying to cut our jobs before we even get a contract.”
The fight in Chattanooga is part of a larger battle between organized labor and organized capital as the UAW continues its efforts to unionize 150,000 autoworkers across the South—where foreign automakers like Mercedes, Hyundai, and Toyota have long operated non-union plants with lower wages.
“Volkswagen workers proved that Southern workers want unions too,” Fain said. “Now, we’re going to fight like hell to make sure the company respects that choice.”
“This isn’t just about Chattanooga,” said Doug Snyder, a Volkswagen body shop worker. “It’s about whether corporations can keep exploiting workers in the South—or whether we finally get our fair share.”
Battle at the NLRB
The NLRB will now investigate the UAW’s charges. If found guilty, Volkswagen could be forced to reinstate jobs, halt unilateral changes, and compensate affected workers.
At present, NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox, who was unlawfully terminated by Trump earlier this year, has returned to the board as the essential third member of the five-person board required for a quorum to address labor disputes. This means that right now there is currently a pro-worker majority on the board.
Trump has appealed the ruling to reinstate Wilcox. His appeal may ultimately be heard by the Supreme Court, which is known for its hostility towards the interests of labor. In the meantime, Wilcox can help decide complaints that land at the board.
With the Trump administration’s attacks on federal agencies, including the NLRB, it remains to be seen how effective the agency will be in delivering a fair outcome for the workers. Just recently, the Trump administration nominated Crystal Carey, an attorney at union-busting firm Morgan Lewis, to serve as the next NLRB General Counsel, its top enforcement officer.
Morgan Lewis attorneys have been involved in some of the biggest labor disputes, from the 1981 air traffic controllers strike to efforts by McDonald’s to resist the Fight for $15—on the side of the capitalists, of course. One of Morgan Lewis’s biggest clients is Amazon, which has an active lawsuit that seeks to declare the NLRB unconstitutional.
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