Sisters and brothers,
Tonight, we have tallied the ballots and you all have sent a clear message to the company: Volkswagen workers are ready to Stand Up.
Under the UAW Constitution, a two-thirds majority vote is required to authorize a strike. Volkswagen workers have now met that threshold, and then some.
Volkswagen Chattanooga workers have officially voted to authorize your elected UAW bargaining committee to call for a strike, should one become necessary in our fight to secure a fair contract.
This is not a step any of us have taken lightly. Our goal is to avoid a strike. But what happens next depends on how the company responds.
In the event of a strike, all UAW members will receive $500 weekly strike pay and coverage for medical care. For more information, visit the UAW’s Strike FAQ page.
Should a strike become necessary, the UAW elected bargaining committee will ensure everyone is informed, signed up for benefits, and prepared to take action. We have a full team of UAW staff to support us should a strike become necessary. We will continue to update you all on the state of negotiations in the coming days.
Our labor is our leverage. This vote shows the company that we are not going to accept less than we are worth, and it gives the company a very clear reason to come back to the negotiating table and settle a fair contract.
It’s time for Volkswagen to come back to the table and avoid a costly strike. But the company now knows that if it comes down to it, we are ready to do what it takes to win our fair share.
This vote asks eligible Volkswagen employees whether to authorize the bargaining committee to call a strike as a bargaining tool if a contract agreement cannot be reached. It only passes if 2/3rds of the people voting VOTE YES.
A “Yes” vote authorizes the committee to call a strike if necessary; it does not automatically start a strike.
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 – Wednesday, October 29
Time: Polls will open at 3:30pm on Tuesday, October 28
Voting will end at 3:30pm on Wednesday, October 29
(Voters in line when polls close will be allowed to vote)
Where: Embassy Suites, 2321 Lifestyle Way, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Who can vote: Currently employed Volkswagen employees represented by UAW Local 42, including people on furlough, pto, medical and other types of leave .
How the vote works: Check in, present required ID (VW ID and a driver’s license/state/military ID), sign voter roll, receive and mark ballot (Yes/No). Ballots will be collected and counted by authorized officials. Secret ballot; your vote is your choice.
Results: Results announced after ballots are counted.
Informational meetings: (October 28) 3:15pm, 8:30pm, 10:45pm, (October 29) 12:45am, 7am. Members of the bargaining committee will be present to answer questions during the entirety of voting.
Here's what's at stake for us in this fight:
