First appeared in the Detroit News on November 23 By: Gary Casteel While the world watched Olympic athletes compete in Brazil, employees of the Renault-Nissan Alliance protested how the automaker was violating the Olympic code of conduct by opposing union rights for workers in Canton, Miss. Renault-Nissan’s plants in Mississippi and Brazil are worlds apart. But workers on both continents are aligned to promote meaningful representation for all employees. Read the full article at detroitnews.com >>>
Chattanooga, Tenn. — Gary Casteel, secretary-treasurer of the UAW and director of the International Union’s Transnational Department, today released the following statement in response to the decision by Volkswagen to appeal an order by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) requiring the company to collectively bargain with skilled trades employees: “We’re disappointed that Volkswagen is continuing to thumb its nose at the federal government. The federal courts have consistently upheld the NLRB labor standard that enabled the skilled trades vote in Chattanooga. Volkswagen’s refusal to comply with the law is especially troubling when IG Metall President Jorg Hofmann and other ...
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The United Auto Workers says Volkswagen officials have reneged on a pledge to recognize the union at the German automaker’s lone U.S. plant in Tennessee. Gary Casteel, the UAW’s secretary-treasurer, released a 2014 document Tuesday stating that Volkswagen would recognize the UAW as the representative of its members in exchange for the union dropping a challenge to the outcome of a union election at the plant in Chattanooga. Read the full story at the Associated Press…
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee — Gary Casteel, secretary-treasurer of the UAW and director of the international union’s Transnational Department, today released the following statement in response to Volkswagen’s decision to violate federal law and fight a ruling by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB): “Today, the UAW asked the NLRB to issue an unfair labor practice complaint against Volkswagen Group of America. The facts are: On April 13, the NLRB issued a clear decision supporting efforts among Volkswagen skilled-trades employees to secure meaningful representation in Chattanooga. By choosing to fight the NLRB, Volkswagen is in clear violation of federal law. We are ...
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CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee — Working men and women at Volkswagen today won an important victory following an order by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) supporting efforts among skilled-trades employees to secure meaningful employee representation. A three-member NLRB panel denied Volkswagen’s request for the agency to review a December 2015 election in which skilled-trades employees in Chattanooga voted overwhelmingly to designate UAW Local 42 as their representative for the purpose of collective bargaining. Today’s order, in effect, upholds the results of the election, which the NLRB supervised. Federal law provides for units within a workforce to seek recognition for achieving collective ...
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The United Auto Workers alleges that Volkswagen has failed to consult with a newly elected maintenance workers union on a range of issues from vending machine prices to out-of-pocket prescription drug costs despite a union victory at the plant in December. The union in filings with the National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday also alleges that a black employee was fired for taking photographs to support a claim of workplace discrimination and promised that “more charges will accumulate” until Volkswagen agrees to enter into collective bargaining with skilled-trades workers at the German automaker’s lone U.S. plant. The UAW charges in ...
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OFFICIALS APPLAUD WORKERS ‘COURAGE AND PERSISTENCE,’
URGE VOLKSWAGEN TO RESPECT DECISION CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Skilled trades employees at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant have voted overwhelmingly to designate UAW Local 42 as their representative for the purpose of initiating collective bargaining. In a two-day election on Thursday and Friday, 152 skilled trades employees cast ballots. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which supervised the election, confirmed that 71% of employees voting favored recognition for Local 42. Federal law provides for units within a workforce to seek recognition for the purpose of achieving collective bargaining. “A key objective for our local union always has ...
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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The UAW today released the following statement from Gary Casteel, secretary-treasurer of the UAW and director of the international union’s Transnational Department, in response to Volkswagen’s announcement that it will appeal a recent order by the National Labor Relations Board: “We’re disappointed that Volkswagen continues to argue against employees’ rights that clearly are protected under federal law. While Volkswagen cites a ‘one team concept’ as the reason for opposing these rights, the company did not hesitate to grant limited recognition to an anti-labor organization that sought to undermine employee representation in the Chattanooga plant. “The facts are: ...
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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The UAW today released the following statements reacting to the decision by the National Labor Relations board to order a representation election for skilled trades employees at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga facility despite the company’s efforts to block the election. Gary Casteel, UAW secretary-treasurer and director of the union’s Transnational Department: “It’s unfortunate that, in the middle of Volkswagen’s widening emissions scandal, we had to spend weeks debating workers’ rights that clearly are protected under federal law. Volkswagen’s attempt to sidestep U.S. law was a waste of employees’ time and energy, and a waste of government resources. Looking ahead, ...
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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — UAW Local 42 today filed paperwork with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) seeking a representation election for employees in the maintenance, or skilled trades, unit of Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant. “A key objective for our local union always has been, and still is, moving toward collective bargaining for the purpose of reaching a multi-year contract between Volkswagen and employees in Chattanooga,” said Mike Cantrell, president of Local 42. “We support our colleagues in the skilled trades as they move toward formal recognition of their unit.” Federal law provides for units within a workforce to seek recognition for the purpose ...
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