United Auto Workers Local 42 in Chattanooga recently filed charges against Volkswagen AG as the latter allegedly violated the National Labor Relations Act for not coming to the bargaining table with the newly established union.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the Local 42 has filed an unfair labor practices charge in the National Labor Relations Board against the automobile company Monday last week due to their refusal to negotiate on a labor contract with the new workers' union.
The Local 42 is composed of 152 skilled workers of the 1,400 total workers of the company. According to Auto Blog, Volkswagen did not want to have two different groups of employees in their company with different rights, thus previously challenged its establishment. However, the NLRB decided pro the United Auto Workers Local 42. The decision subsequently led to a vote on collective bargain.
"Following this month's election, we were hopeful that the company would accept the results and recommit to the principles of social responsibility that made Volkswagen a respected global brand. Instead, Volkswagen has refused to come to the bargaining table in violation of federal law", UAW secretary-treasurer Gary Casteel said on the issue.
According to Time Free Press, Atty. Bill Ozier who has served as representive for employers on labor issues, stated that the national labor panel is unlikely to overturn the creation of the skilled-trade bargaining unit in the company.
He further added that the only way for the issue to be addressed would be to refuse bargain with the UAW which would then result to a complaint on the NLRB, and would then be the subject in the federal appeals court.
VW's spokesperson Scott Wilson previously said that the union does not fully represent the interest of the workforce comprised of the maintenance and production employees in the company. Volkswagen AG has not released their side on the issue after the complaint was filed.
