Volkswagen employees in Tennessee have petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for a unionization vote, with a "supermajority" of the 4,000 eligible workers at the plant having signed cards supporting the United Automobile Workers. This marks the third attempt by the workers to join the union, with the previous two attempts failing. If successful, this would be a significant win for the U.A.W. in its efforts to organize nonunion factories across the South.
A couple who work at a Ford factory in Michigan, which was on strike for 41 days, expressed optimism about the transformative impact of a new tentative contract agreement. The agreement, if ratified, would provide significant gains for autoworkers, including higher wages and more time off. The couple, who were previously working 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, are hopeful that the new contract will allow them to work fewer hours and have a better work-life balance, enabling them to spend more time with their family and pursue their financial goals.
