Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee expressed his belief that workers at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga made an error in their decision to unionize under the United Auto Workers in a landslide election. However, he acknowledged that the ultimate choice was in their hands.
Lee and five other Southern Republican governors publicly voiced their opposition to the UAW’s efforts to unionize workers in mainly Southern factories. They argued that voting for union representation could potentially put jobs at risk.
The union, instead, managed to secure a significant 73% of the vote at a facility where workers had previously rejected union representation in both 2019 and 2014. This vote at the Volkswagen plant came after a string of strikes last fall against automakers in Detroit, which ultimately led to favorable new contracts for the workers. In May, employees at Mercedes factories near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will also have the opportunity to vote on UAW representation.
In a press conference on Monday, Lee expressed his disappointment over the Volkswagen vote, describing it as a setback for the workers. Drawing on his personal experience with skilled workers, Lee highlighted that his family’s business, Lee Company, which employs approximately 1,600 individuals in home, facilities, and construction projects, does not have a unionized workforce.
During an event in Gallatin, Lee expressed his opinion on the matter, stating, “I believe it is not wise to rely on others for your future.” He acknowledged that the workers at the plant made their decision based on their own circumstances, even though he personally considers it a mistake.
The union achieved a significant milestone with its victory at the Volkswagen plant, marking the first time they have successfully organized a Southern assembly plant owned by a foreign automaker.
President Joe Biden criticized the efforts made by Lee and other Republican governors from the South to encourage auto workers to vote against the union. The Democrat commended the achievements of unions representing autoworkers, Hollywood actors and writers, healthcare workers, and various other professionals in securing improved contracts.
In a news release on Friday, President Biden directly addressed Republican governors who attempted to undermine the recent vote, reassuring them that there is no reason to be afraid of American workers exercising their legal right to form a union and use their voice.
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