WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Workers at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant in the
US state of Tennessee have voted overwhelmingly to unionize at the
third attempt, the company and the United Auto Workers (UAW) have
announced.

The ballot, which ended on Friday, saw 73% of the workers backing the
move. The result has yet to be confirmed by the National Labor
Relations Board, an agency of the United States federal government.

The UAW, which is seeking to expand its presence in the US automotive
sector, sees the outcome as a significant victory.

Two attempts to unionize the plant over recent years failed. But the
union has scored major successes recently. In the autumn, it secured
better conditions and a pay rise of around 25% at the main US
automotive companies, General Motors, Ford and Stellantis (formerly
Chrylser), following a lengthy strike.

Until now, the union has had little success in the southern states
and the plants of non-US vehicle makers. It has also failed to
unionize Tesla workers.

A total of 3,613 workers, equivalent to 83.5% of the labour force,
cast their ballots, with 2,628 voting to be represented by the UAW.

Germany's powerful IG Metall union said on Saturday that Chattanooga
was VW's sole plant without union representation. Daniela Cavallo,
head of the VW works council, said the Chattanooga workers had
'rewritten US trade union history.' 


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