Roy Exum
Volkswagen officials were scheduled to meet with state lawmakers in Nashville today about a $178 million incentive package to expand the Chattanooga assembly plant but apparently there is already “blood on the floor” at the Chattanooga Assembly plant. VW is vigorously pushing for its work force to be represented by the United Auto Workers and has just “suspended” a worker for his involvement in countered the movement.
Eric Wilson, a VW worker who is an outspoken critic of the UAW, was abruptly escorted from the plant by security workers last week after he was told he had violated VW’s media policy in an article that appeared on the website Nooga.com.
But some at the plant feel it is instead the result of a letter he sent to members of the state legislature that claimed VW’s now-infamous Patta brothers “trashed” the worker’s decision not to accept the union with a 712-626 “no” vote last February.
It is believed Wilson is the first worker that suspended for violating “media rules” and that the allegations are indeed bogus. Other employees have openly made comments – pro and con -- on the UAW’s desperate efforts here and have not been suspended. The more compelling reason for Wilson’s ouster is that he wrote a letter to members of the Tennessee legislature questioning if taxpayer dollars should be funneled towards what VW clearly hopes to be a UAW shop.
Suddenly there are freedom-of-speech issues, not to mention possible violations on Volkswagen’s part of fair labor laws in the United States. The UAW has colorful history of being afoul federal and state labor laws and guidelines, most recently in an election to decertify the UAW in Hamilton, Ala., where more ballots were cast than there were employees in one of four elections.
VW officials have maintained neutrality and fairness in UAW’s desperate attempt to unionize the Chattanooga Assembly Plant but now caustic remarks by Frank Patta have come to light and prove that is grossly untrue. Patta is the general secretary of Volkswagen’s European and World Group Works Council. Four months after the UAW was voted down in Chattanooga last year, the high-ranking VW board member was a featured speaker at the UAW’s 36th Constitutional Convention. His brother Sebastian heads Human Relations at the Chattanooga assembly plant.
A UAW newsletter claims Patta said the following at the UAW convention delegates:
“I have not seen what happened to workers on the shop floor at Volkswagen ever before,” said Patta. “This was not Volkswagen being active against workers. It was about fighting an attacker from the outside, and in the end fear mongering won the election. I would like to praise the 626 brothers and sisters (those who voted yes at Volkswagen Chattanooga) for their courage and steadfastness,” he told applauding delegates.
The article read, “Patta says the international focus of the works council is a model that can only help U.S. workers, and that’s why it’s so important the union vote in Chattanooga be won. And it will. “We did not lose the fight,” said Patta. “I promise you we will go on. Our dream is stronger than the resistance of our enemies.
“We will only rest once our colleagues in Tennessee have the UAW and co-determination. Our (Volkswagen) works council model will spread to the entire South and hopefully far beyond Tennessee and throughout the United States. This is our dream, and our vision is well worth fighting for,” said Patta.”
As Patta identified the 712 Volkswagen employees that voted no to the UAW “our enemies” and “attackers,” it was comical to read the man also said – quoting the same newsletter – “Volkswagen management behaved admirably during the election, remaining neutral to allow workers the right to decide for themselves whether they want a union. But right-wing politicians and special interest groups, he said, engaged in a level of intimidation and threats against workers never witnessed by him in all the years of union organizing work he has done.”
Patta was in Chattanooga several weeks ago and members of the newly-formed American Council of Employees – a second group that will represent employees -- said that he was challenged numerous times by workers over his steadfast determination to bring in the UAW. Another source said that Sebastian Patta, when openly questioned during a roundtable discussion, allegedly told one specialist, “Unions will be part of this plant. If you do not like that, then go somewhere else to find a job.”
So much for “behaving admirably” and “remaining neutral.
According to a source, the suspended worker, Eric Wilson, isn’t sure how long he will be suspended or if he’ll ever be allowed to return. Tennessee is a right-to-work state and Wilson’s letter to the State Legislature has already raised some eyebrows.
His letter to each of the state’s lawmakers read:
“I am an employee at Volkswagen-Chattanooga. I have been here since the beginning.
“During the current session of the Tennessee General Assembly, part of the $300 million incentive package to Volkswagen will be voted on.
“I am a veteran. I served in the 2nd Cavalry from 1978-80. We ran border operations along the Iron Curtain and served as a trip-wire for a Soviet invasion. I was there when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Our tanks were deployed into the German forests and a lot of Christians were born that night as we prayed to live just 24 more hours.
“I have clearly made it known to Sebastian Patta that I take great offense to what he and his brother are responsible for. A democratic vote of 712 - 626 occurred last February and the Patta brothers did not like the result and soon trashed that decision. I spent two years defending a democracy in West Germany and for them to come here and spit on ours is sometimes more than I can bear. I was called to HR a week ago to discuss my opposition. I told them that many people fought and died to preserve our democracy and losing my job is a small price to pay.
“I understand there are a lot of jobs on the line. I benefited from the first round. But, I do struggle with the thought of sacrificing a federally recognized democratic vote for money.
“The Tennessee Legislature faces a tough decision, but our democracy will do what is right.”
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Volkswagen officials will meet with state representatives today at the Hermitage Hotel.
Royexum@aol.com
Frank Patta