The share of workers represented by unions has fallen steadily in the US since the 1980s. Colleagues in Chattanooga have twice rejected the idea. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The US has seen increased labour unrestSince 2021, there has even been a small uptick in the number of union members. But the pandemic ushered in an unusually hot jobs market and rapid rise in living costs, emboldening workers across the country to make demands. The election, which involves roughly 4,300 workers and starts on 17 April, is the first to emerge from a campaign UAW leaders announced last year to try to win new members at 13 foreign-owned car factories based in the south. The UAW's ties to the Democratic Party remain a liability on the factory floor, especially in an election year. Jeff Irvin Jr, who has worked at the Chattanooga plant since 2010, says he has supported the union in the past, but is on the fence this time. "Prior efforts to unionise in Chattanooga and elsewhere in the south have failed in the face of fierce criticism from local politicians, Republicans, who warned a vote for the union could threaten government support for Volkswagen and make the state less appealing for business investment. "Is it enough in a very red state like Tennessee to move the needle?It's hard to say. Volkswagen worker Jose Sandy says there is still "a lot of scepticism" about the UAW and its ability to make a difference. "It feels way different," said Volkswagen worker Zachary Costello, one of the union's vocal supporters at the Chattanooga factory. "There's a lot more open acceptance of unionising across the shifts. "Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The union need "to deliver on what they have have said they're going to do and it's not clear to me yet how they're going to do it," says Mr Sandy, who has been digging into Volkswagen's financial statements, concerned the union's claims about the company areVolkswagen declined to answer questions about next steps should the UAW win but said in a statement that it "fully" supported a vote and was "proud" of its record in Chattanooga - where the average annual salary is more than $60,000. Still, he says he is keeping an open mind and leaning toward a yes vote: "I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. "VolkswagenUS economyTrade UnionsUS
