PRESIDENT

UAW Local 42

Mike Cantrell
VICE PRESIDENT

November 10, 2014

Steve Cochran
RECORDING
SECRETARY
Devin Gore
FINANCIAL
SECRETARY
Chris Brown
TRUSTEES
Myra Montgomery

REPLY TO:
3922 Volunteer Drive
Suite 7
Chattanooga TN 37416
PHONE: 423.893.0576
FAX; 423.893.0577

We are writing to update you on our progress toward

being recognized as Volkswagens bargaining partner. As
you know, since Local 42 was created last summer, a majority
of our co-workers have voluntarily joined. It is our
understanding that Volkswagen this week will announce a
new policy in Chattanooga that will lead to recognition of
Local 42. We await details from the company on this policy
and will share more thoughts after the announcement.

Troy Hunt

Our expectation that Volkswagen will recognize Local 42 is

based on discussions that took place in Germany last spring,
-AT-ARMS S SGT AT ARMS
between representatives of the UAW and Volkswagen. At
Lynn Smith
that time, we were upset about the interference of outside
parties and false statements made during the February
GUIDE
election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board
Will Branch
(NLRB). We were ready to take our objections to an NLRB
hearing and ask for an investigation. At the same time, however, we were working to
win placement of the CrossBlue SUV at our plant. This led to the spring discussions in
Germany, which were summarized in a document from the company.
Marc Lemmon

That document outlined mutually agreed-upon commitments by Volkswagen and the

UAW. One key commitment: the UAW would withdraw its NLRB objections, so that
they would not become an issue in the CrossBlue placement decision. The UAW did
that, knowing that the NLRB process could drag on for years. Another key commitment:
the UAW and Volkswagen would work cooperatively and constructively on the product
award. We did that too, successfully. For its part, Volkswagen committed in the
document that it would recognize the UAW as the representative of our members.
With the companys commitment, and the clear signal in September that the
Volkswagen Global Group Works Council and our German partner IG Metall want the
Chattanooga plant to be a UAW-represented facility, Local 42 will continue moving
forward. Volkswagen recognizes trade unions at all of its plants around the world.
Chattanooga is ready to join the rest of the Volkswagen family. We await the details of
Volkswagens announcement and will update you on the next steps.
In solidarity,
MIKE CANTRELL
UAW Local 42 President
cc.
UAW President Dennis Williams
UAW Secretary-Treasurer Gary Casteel
UAW Region 8 Director Ray Curry

STEVE COCHRAN
UAW Local 42 Vice-President