The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness
Economic Policy

Governors of six Southern states warn workers against joining UAW union

Joint statement comes a day before Volkswagen factory in Tennessee votes on unionization — the first of more than a dozen factories the UAW is targeting

By
Updated April 16, 2024 at 5:15 p.m. EDT|Published April 16, 2024 at 4:18 p.m. EDT
Tennessee's Bill Lee is one of six Republican governors from the South to speak against the United Auto Workers. (Mark Humphrey/AP)
3 min

In a high-profile attempt to head off unionization of their states’ auto factories, the governors of six Southern states warned their residents that joining the United Auto Workers would threaten jobs and “the values we live by.”

The joint statement from the Republican governors comes just a day before a Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tenn., is set to vote on joining the UAW — the first of more than a dozen factories the union is targeting in the South as it attempts to break out of its Midwestern stronghold.