Tennessee VW workers want to unionize; VW is fine with that; Gov. Haslam isn't

[Indy Texas]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/07/business/vw-and-auto-workers-explore-union-at-tennessee-plant.html?hp&_r=1&

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The issue appears to be that (1) US labor laws don't allow for the works council arrangement, which has never existed at American workplaces but is common in Europe, because it is legally similar to the "company unions" that some American companies used during the Gilded Age to avoid unions actually doing anything, and VW is required to negotiate with a national labor union (the UAW) as a result. And (2) Governor Haslam and his party can't handle the prospect of unionized workers.

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[Indy Texas]

I have to agree with the VW workers on this one. So long as non union labor is allowed in the shop as well. Remember Tennessee is a right to work state

Well the point of a works council is that ALL workers are part of it. That includes factory workers, managers, office staff, etc. It's basically a part of the company, it's not a club that you pay a fee to join.

[Indy Texas]

I love Haslam, but I don't agree with it. I don't really see the point either. Tennessee is a right to work state, in the south, and unions are practically dead. What's the point of making a stand on a plant level union?

If workers start to see union membership in their own interests, it repudiates a lot of Republican ideology and is a threat to the business interests they generally represent.

But Volkswagen is one of those business interests and that didn't stop Tennessee Republicans from more or less wreaking havoc on their preferred internal employee organization method.