US Volkswagen workers file for union election 19 March, 2024Off the back of the auto union UAW’s successful Stand Up Strikes last year, workers at Volkswagen’s plant in Chattanooga – the only Volkswagen plant globally with no form of employee representation – are filing for a union election.
INTERVIEW: Daniela Cavallo – a team player focusing on solutions10 February, 2022Daniela Cavallo, president of the European and World Group Works Councils of Volkswagen, the largest global automotive manufacturer with more than 600,000 employees worldwide, has incredible power concentrated in her hands.
International solidarity ends precarious work at Kenya auto plant31 March, 2021For many years, IndustriALL affiliate the Amalgamated Union of Kenya Metal Workers (AUKMW), campaigned against the piece rate system at Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM) which paid workers on an hourly basis. After support from the Volkswagen Works Council, from January 2021 the 42 affected workers have better contracts and are now being paid monthly.
Action needed on Uyghur slave labour18 November, 2020The Chinese government continues to hold members of the Uyghur minority group in forced labour camps. Goods produced by these enslaved workers – particularly cotton – are entering global supply chains.
Unions approve agreement to save jobs at Volkswagen Brazil21 September, 2020Unions at the four Volkswagen plants in Brazil have negotiated a collective agreement safeguarding jobs for five years, as well as setting out further investments and a voluntary layoff package.
VW neglected Covid-19 health and safety protocols, says union13 August, 2020IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has condemned the violation of Covid-19 protocols by Volkswagen South Africa at its plant in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape province.
Threat of job cuts at Volkswagen plant in Russia 20 May, 2020At Volkswagen’s plant in Kaluga, Russia, workers who voluntarily resign are offered five to six months wages. IndustriALL affiliate ITUWA, is advising members to wait until an official process to reduce jobs is in place, as it would be more beneficial for the workers.
UAW loses election at VW Chattanooga by narrow margin18 June, 2019Just as in 2014, right wing politicians, pressure groups, the company and union busting law firms invested all they could to prevent IndustriALL affiliate UAW from winning the union elections at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.
Russia: trade unions prepare for wage dispute at Volkswagen 26 April, 2019IndustriALL Global Union affiliates at the Volkswagen plant in Kaluga, Russia, have developed a joint action plan to increase their negotiating power as a stalemate with the company over wage increases is due to become a collective dispute under Russian law.
Why are so many auto plants closing?5 March, 2019Auto plants provide well-paid, highly skilled and heavily unionized work, so a spate of plant closures and retrenchments in several countries is worrying for unions. While we need to fight closures plant by plant, we also need to understand the wider structural drivers.
