Workers at Volkswagen's factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have taken a significant step towards union representation by filing paperwork with the National Labor Relations Board seeking an election on union representation, the United Auto Workers (UAW) said. This move is part of the UAW's effort to organize nonunion automobile plants across the nation, including those run by Tesla, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Honda, and others. The UAW campaign, announced last fall after successful contracts with Detroit automakers, aims to target nearly 150,000 workers at factories mainly in the South, where the union has had little success in recruiting new members.

The UAW stated that a supermajority of the VW plant's roughly 4,000 production workers had signed cards supporting union representation, although the exact number was not provided. Once a majority of workers support the union, a union can seek an election run by the NLRB. The NLRB confirmed receiving the petition and tentatively set a pre-election hearing for March 26 in Atlanta. Volkswagen also confirmed receipt of the petition and stated that they respect their workers' right to a democratic process.

Chattanooga workers, who produce Atlas SUVs and the ID.4 electric vehicle, have complained about mistreatment by Volkswagen management, including mandatory overtime on Saturdays and are seeking higher pay. The UAW has stated that with a union, workers can bargain for a safer workplace and better conditions. The union has come close to representing workers at the VW plant in two previous elections in 2014 and 2019, where workers narrowly rejected a factorywide union under the UAW.

The UAW's organizing effort gained momentum after successful strikes against General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, resulting in big raises and other benefits for workers. The union has said that Volkswagen's pay still lags behind Detroit automakers, despite a recent 11% pay raise at the plant. The UAW's contracts with Detroit automakers include substantial pay raises, with a top assembly wage of $42 per hour by 2028.

The filing for an election at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga marks a crucial moment in the UAW's campaign to organize nonunion auto plants across the nation, with the potential to set a precedent for other factories in the South.