--- title: Updates on first contract negotiations at Tennessee VW plant description: The America’s Work Force Union Podcast is the nation’s premier daily labor program. Tim Smith from UAW Region 8 joined us on today’s show. image: https://awf.labortools.com/hubfs/AWF-blog-image-template_UAW.jpg --- 1 min read Season 5, Episode 210 # Updates on first contract negotiations at Tennessee VW plant [ awfblog ](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/author/awfblog) October 21, 2024 [America's Work Force Union Podcast](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/americas-work-force-union-podcast) [AWF](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/awf) [United Auto Workers](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/united-auto-workers) ![AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_UAW](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_UAW.png?width=400&height=400&name=AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_UAW.png)   Guest Name: --- Tim Smith Guest Website: --- [UAW Region 8](https://uawregion8.net/)  Guest Social Media: --- [ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/UAWRegion8) [ Twitter](https://twitter.com/uawregion8) [ YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/) [ LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/) Supportive Documents: --- Tim Smith, Director of [Region 8](https://uawregion8.net/) of the [United Auto Workers](https://uaw.org/), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to give an update on the first contract negotiations at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee. He also discussed issues with Stellantis and what led some members of [UAW Local 129](https://region8.uaw.org/uaw-local-129) to go on strike. Since the historic union election win at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn, Smith and the bargaining team have worked hard to earn workers a first contract. During the last five weeks, Smith said the 20 bargaining team members have been doing an excellent job in the conversations with Volkswagen. He also discussed what is still coming for the bargaining team. While the UAW's negotiations at VW have gone well, its relationship with Stellantis has been complicated. Smith discussed the problems that have occurred since the new contract with the Big Three automakers—Ford, General Motors and Stellantis—was finalized. While many significant issues have not impacted Region 8 yet, Stellantis has laid off or discussed laying off several members around the region. Smith said members are ready to strike if Stellantis does not honor their commitments. Finally, Smith discussed what forced UAW Local 129 workers at the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) in Euless, Texas, to strike. The bargaining unit, comprised of 11 clerical, administrative and support staff, unanimously rejected the latest contract offer. This is the first time since the bargaining unit joined the UAW in 1989 that they voted down a contract proposal. Smith stressed that being a part of a union means workers get the workplace protections they deserve, no matter the size of the bargaining unit. For more from Smith, please listen to the show above. --- America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues. America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ##### SUBSCRIBE ON: --- [![Group 342](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png?width=171&name=Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/id1511224946) [![Group 341](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Spotify%20Button-Dark.png?width=100&name=Spotify%20Button-Dark.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/0GzkHxFSBxiXvuX0lZpQBn) [![Group 343](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20343.png?width=135&name=Group%20343.png)](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast-62567752/) [![Group 339](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20339.png?width=110&name=Group%20339.png)](https://www.pandora.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/PC:47979) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20397.png?width=125&name=Group%20397.png)](https://americasworkforceradiopodcast.podbean.com/) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YouTube_button.png?width=125&name=YouTube_button.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQo1PAtRAel1_tS7-PQOkA)   #### [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/brotherhood-of-railroad-signalmen-on-the-union-pacific-merger-threat) : July 6, 2026 # Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat Brandon Elvey, Secretary-Treasurer of the [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen](https://www.brs.org/),... 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