On Friday, Volkswagen (VW) announced the results of a closely watched unionization election by the United Automobile Workers (UAW). The vote was held at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee from Wednesday, June 12 – Friday, June 14.

According to Volkswagen, 833 workers voted against the union, while 776 workers voted for the union. Interestingly, 93% of the 1,700 workers who were eligible to vote voted in the election.

This is the second time in the past five years that workers have chosen not to unionize at this plant, marking another big defeat for the UAW.

The UAW hoped to win this election in order to establish itself in the South.

However, workers read about the corruption of UAW leadership, the use of dues on expensive travel, the closure of plants with workers purportedly represented by the union, and other concerns. In addition, the National Right to Work Foundation had to intervene on behalf of VW workers after the last election to protect the workers’ vote against unionization.

In contrast to the failures of the UAW, as I explained in my article, Tennessee is doing well economically, and production workers at the plant will be even better off shortly.

Volkswagen announced that wages for production workers in Chattanooga would start at $16 per hour starting July 1^st. In January, the company also announced that it would invest $800 million in the Chattanooga plant and add 1,000 jobs to the factory.

The workers simply voted for more prosperity over corruption.

Americans for Tax Reform and the Center for Worker Freedom congratulate these workers on their victory!