Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2024

April 19, 2024

Congratulations to the workers at Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on their historic vote for union representation with the United Auto Workers. I was proud to stand alongside auto workers in their successful fight for record contracts, and I am proud to stand with auto workers now as they successfully organize at Volkswagen. Across the country, union members have logged major wins and large raises, including auto workers, actors, port workers, teamsters, writers, warehouse and health care workers, and more. Together, these union wins have helped raise wages and demonstrate once again that the middle class built America and that unions are still building and expanding the middle class for all workers.

Six Republican Governors wrote a letter attempting to influence workers' votes by falsely claiming that a successful vote would jeopardize jobs in their States. Let me be clear to the Republican Governors that tried to undermine this vote: There is nothing to fear from American workers using their voice and their legal right to form a union if they so choose. In fact, the growing strength of unions over the last year has gone hand in hand with record small business and jobs growth alongside the longest stretch of low unemployment in more than 50 years. I will continue to stand with American workers and stand against Republicans' effort to weaken workers' voice.

NOTE: The statement referred to Gov. William B. Lee of Tennessee; Gov. Kay E. Ivey of Alabama; Gov. Brian P. Kemp of Georgia; Gov. J. Tate Reeves of Mississippi; Gov. Henry D. McMaster of South Carolina; and Gov. Gregory W. Abbott of Texas.

Categories: Statements by the President : United Auto Workers vote at Volkswagen manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, TN.

Names: Abbott, Gregory W.; Ivey, Kay E.; Kemp, Brian P.; Lee, William B.; McMaster, Henry D.; Reeves, J. Tate.

Subjects: Alabama, Governor; Georgia, Governor; Job creation and growth; Labor movement and organized labor; Mississippi, Governor; Small businesses, promotion efforts; South Carolina, Governor; Tennessee, Governor; Tennessee, Volkswagen manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, United Auto Workers vote; Texas, Governor; Unemployment rate; United Auto Workers (UAW).

DCPD Number: DCPD202400315.

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