AFL-CIO President on Results of UAW Vote at Volkswagen’s Tennessee Plant

April 19, 2024

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler released the following statement commenting on the significance of the UAW vote at the Volkswagen (VW) plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and its impacts on the labor movement:

We congratulate the Volkswagen workers, our UAW family and UAW President Shawn Fain for this monumental victory in Chattanooga. The victory at Volkswagen's plant in Tennessee marks a historic milestone for workers across the state and the broader South. Led by a diverse coalition of young activists, this triumph challenges outdated labor laws and sets new standards for collective bargaining power. It symbolizes a shift away from the old economic model that prioritizes the profits of big corporations to a new era where working people have the power to shape our futures.

By securing fair wages, benefits and workplace protections, Chattanooga VW workers are not only improving their own lives but also raising the bar for working people across the southern region. We at the AFL-CIO are working with our affiliated unions and community allies to build infrastructure in the South to open up new avenues of innovative organizing. Workers in the South, like everywhere, are hungry for a union and a seat at the table now more than ever.

This victory sends a powerful message to corporate interests everywhere: Workers will no longer tolerate exploitation and mistreatment. Whether it's autoworkers in Tennessee, film crews in Hollywood, hotel workers in Las Vegas or baristas at the local coffee shop, when working people stand together in solidarity, we have the power to enact meaningful change and usher in a brighter future for all.

Contact: Isabel Aldunate, 202-637-5018