The UAW is Letting Down its New Members at Volkswagen

The UAW sure hasn’t been good for anyone over at Volkswagen (VW). 

Next month, another production line is scheduled to be powered down with another 160 employees “furloughed”. This comes after VW begged employees to take part in “voluntary” layoffs earlier this year as it eliminated an entire shift. 

It’s been over a year since the UAW had its “big win” but the union hasn’t been able to deliver a contract agreement. UAW can’t make any auto company agree to the big promises they make to buy workers’ votes. Now, Volkswagen has just made a best and final offer to the UAW – it sure sounds like they have had enough of the UAW’s antics! 

But don’t worry, the UAW has a “solution.” The union is circulating documents gathering support for a strike at Volkswagen. Don’t take our word for it, here’s what the UAW’s strike cards read: “Your UAW Volkswagen bargaining committee is recommending a YES vote on strike authorization with the full backing of the international union.”

When on strike, striking workers still need to come to work. Instead of working, though, these workers need to stand in front of the plant holding signs rather than working. Pay and benefits are paused during the strike. Unions sometimes offer compensation to striking workers, which is typically around $500 each week in replacement for their regular wages. 

The bottom line: Over a year with the UAW and Volkswagen workers have gotten shift cuts, furloughs, and a potential strike, all while not getting a union contract.

Perhaps the UAW’s leadership could be forgiven for dropping the ball in their negotiations with Volkswagen, they have a lot on their minds right now. Namely, that their own members want to fire them.

Rank-and-file members at the union are filing charges against Shawn Fain, accusing him of dereliction of duty, retaliation, and violating the UAW constitution. Several UAW chapters even voted in favor of these charges. 

We’re doing just fine without paying dues for any of this. We already told them “No!” because we didn’t want to see what is happening at Volkswagen happen here. 

We hope it doesn’t come to it, but just in case, let’s be ready to say “No” again!