UAW Organizes Desperate Measures

United Auto Worker union bosses are seeking help from concerns outside the United States in their desperate attempt to bring Volkwagen workers under their thumb.  In February, workers at the Chattanooga, Tennessee Volkswagen plant voted to eschew union representation, but UAW bosses refuse to listen.  Mike Pare has the story in the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Saying foreign union groups appear to be conspiring with the United Auto Workers to force workers into its ranks at Chattanooga’s Volkswagen plant, a right to work entity is seeking federal action.

In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez, the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation said officials from the German IG Metall union, VW’s Global Group Works Council, the UAW, and VW in Germany have taken part in “high profile public activities…that trigger Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act reporting requirements.”

“As it stands now, American employees of Volkswagen do not know what inside arrangements exist among UAW, IG Metall, Global Works Council, and VW…,” said Mark Mix, the foundation’s president. He cited activities such as “bounties and future dues sharing.”
Mix said the Labor Department so far has ignored the high-profile labor activities and the reporting requirements. If it continues to do so, union and company officials “may receive de facto immunity for their possible violations of the LMRDA’s criminal and civil protections.”

Mike Trupo, a Department of Labor spokesman, said the agency received the letter and would review it. He declined further comment.