German Labor Leaders to Meet with VW's U.S. Workers

An official of German metalworkers union IG Metall will talk to hourly employees at Volkswagen AG's assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., early next month.

Bernd Osterloh, head of the IG Metall unit at VW, tells reporters that the union supports the efforts of the United Auto Workers union to organize workers at the factory. Noting the strong anti-union sentiment in the American South, he says, "We'll make sure the UAW has a real chance."

But Osterloh, who also is vice chairman of VW's supervisory board, declares that German labor leaders won't pressure American workers to join the UAW. If those employees vote against joining a union, German labor will make efforts to form an unspecified interest lobby, according to Osterloh. He insists that employees at the Tennessee plant which is VW's only non-union factory worldwide must have a voice on the company's global works council.

UAW President Bob King has asserted it is crucial to the union's future to organize auto plants run by foreign carmakers. UAW membership has dwindled over recent decades as foreign-owned facilities produce an increasing share of the vehicles made in North America. The union has succeeded in organizing workers only at foreign-domestic joint ventures in the U.S.