Volkswagen plant tileAn anti-United Auto Workers group at Chattanooga's Volkswagen plant has opened headquarters space near the factory, and it's continuing to sign up workers as it tries to gain recognition from the German automaker as it criticized the UAW.
"This lets people know we're alive and well and getting stronger," said Mike Burton, a VW worker who is the interim secretary of the American Council of Employees.
ACE also said that comments Monday by UAW Local 42 regarding its status with VW are "entirely false."
"This is yet another desperate attempt by the UAW to scare and mislead Volkswagen employees," said Sean Moss, interim president of ACE. "The UAW hopes that they can mislead VW employees into thinking that their only choice is the UAW. That simply isn't the truth."
Burton said ACE officials believe they'll be the exclusive representatives of VW plant employees within a few months.
The opening of the ACE headquarters at 6178 Adamson Circle comes after UAW Local 42 released a letter to its members Monday, saying it hopes to gain recognition from VW as well.
Mike Cantrell, recently picked to head the non-dues-paying local, said officials believe VW this week will announce a new policy in Chattanooga that the UAW thinks will lead to recognition of Local 42. The policy is expected to outline the company's plans to interact with community and labor groups at the plant.
"Our expectation that Volkswagen will recognize Local 42 is based on discussions that took place in Germany last spring, between representatives of the UAW and Volkswagen," the letter said.
See more in Wednesday's Times Free Press.