New low in infringing on workers’ right to organize
Washington, DC – Republicans and special interest groups have hit a new low in infringing on workers’ basic legal right to organize says the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) in condemning their shameful interference with the Volkswagen workers’ National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election in Chattanooga.
“We are outraged at the shameful tactics Sen. Corker, Governor Haslam and their billionaire and special interest buddies employed to squelch the legal right of these Volkswagen workers to form a labor union,” said ATU International President Larry Hanley. “Corker’s claims that a new Volkswagen product would be built in Chattanooga if workers voted against joining the UAW union representation was politically motivated threat to the economic future for these workers and their families.”
The ATU praised Volkswagen and I G Metall for remaining neutral in the union vote, respecting the workers’ rights and their freedom to make a decision.
“We must work hard to change the tone of the American conversation on the rights of workers and I look forward to vigorous discussion in the coming days at the AFL-CIO Winter meetings,” Hanley continued. “Americans can not sit silent and let these deplorable actions continue. We must join together and fight back against these anti-worker forces.”