UAW Withdraws Objections On Volkswagen Election

(RTTNews) - The United Automobile Workers or UAW announced Monday it is withdrawing objections filed with the National Labor Relations Board or NLRB regarding February's vote at the Volkswagen (VLKAY.PK, VOW.BE, VKW.L) plant in Chattanooga, effectively terminating the NLRB review process.

UAW President Bob King said the decision was made in the best interests of Volkswagen employees, the automaker, and economic development in Chattanooga. King said the UAW based its decision on the belief that the NLRB's historically dysfunctional and complex process potentially could drag on for months or even years.

In additon, the UAW cited refusals by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and U.S. Sen. Bob Corker to participate in a transparent legal discovery process, which undermines public trust and confidence.

The unprecedented political interference by Gov. Haslam, Sen. Corker and others was a distraction for Volkswagen employees and a detour from achieving Tennessee's economic priorities," King said. "The UAW is ready to put February's tainted election in the rearview mirror and instead focus on advocating for new jobs and economic investment in Chattanooga."

Looking ahead, the UAW believes the congressional inquiry into the Haslam administration's incentives threat to Volkswagen provides the best opportunity for additional scrutiny. The UAW will ask Congress to examine the use of federal funds in the state's incentives threat, in order to protect Tennessee jobs and workers in the future.