The United Auto Workers union has requested that the federal labor board set aside the election results, after a loss at the Chattanooga Volkswagen plant last week, according to the Huffington Post. The 13 page appeal comes as a result of a “a firestorm of interference” from outside groups and politicians, including Sen. Bob Corker.
The appeal submitted by the union, to the National Labor Relations Board, will now have labor officials considering whether the statements by lawmakers have interfered enough to potentially sway votes and taint the election. According to a United Auto Workers press release, the board could order a do-over.
In the 13-page appeal, the United Auto Workers union stated that “threats” made by Tennessee lawmakers were “clearly designed to influence the votes” of Volkswagen workers, who eventually voted 712-to-626 against UAW representation, reported Huffington Post. In the appeal filed with the National Labor Relations Board, the union asked the federal labor agency to consider holding another vote at the plant, arguing that “interference by politicians and outside special interest groups” had swayed the election.
The United Auto Workers union cited Corker’s statement in its appeal, and said that the senator’s “conduct was shameful and undertaken with utter disregard for the rights of the citizens of Tennessee and surrounding states that work at Volkswagen.”
The union’s request, known as an objection to the election, could lead to a new election. A spokesman told The Wall Street Journal, that the National Labor Relations Board will review the UAW’s objections. Scott Wilson, a Volkswagen spokesman in Chattanooga, declined to comment on the appeal. Volkswagen Group sells passenger cars under the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, Škoda and Volkswagen marques and motorcycles under the Ducati brand. In 2012, it produced the third-largest number of motor vehicles of any company in the world, behind General Motors and Toyota.
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