Gov. Bill Haslam speaks at an economic development announcement in Cookville, Tenn., on Monday, Aug. 25, 2014.More on the UAW
Read more on the push to unionize Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is downplaying the significance of a new policy that the United Auto Workers has characterized as an avenue toward union recognition at the Chattanooga Volkswagen factory.
Haslam is one of the more vocal Republicans critical of the UAW's efforts to represent workers at the plant.
He told reporters Tuesday that his administration has been in talks with Volkswagen about the new policy, but declined to be specific pending an official announcement. But he added that he doesn't expect "new news in this beyond what they said before."
Workers at the plant expect the company to unveil a new policy for employee engagement this week.
VW employees supporting a UAW rival group, the American Council of Employees, said they think they'll be the exclusive worker representative going forward.
"We hope to present VW with more than enough members" by next February, said Mike Burton, a VW worker and ACE interim secretary.
Read more in tomorrow's Times Free Press.