The senator, also a former Chattanooga mayor, says he is not against the unions, but had to warn the German manufacturer that a contract with an union would bring little benefits for the carmaker, mostly because the UAW has a limited "us vs. them" vision of the world.
"I was asked to give input, and I did," Corker was quoted as saying by the Chattanooga Times Free Press. "I certainly shared with VW I couldn't see how there was any possibility it could be a benefit to them to enter into a contract with UAW."
The senators words were heard after UAW's president Bob King expressed his hopes that the unions will reach Chattanooga as well.
Volkswagen's new plant in Chattanooga will officially open its doors in 2011 and will employ around 2,000 workers. The factory will be responsible for manufacturing a brand new model, the New Midsize Sedan, a car especially designed for the North American market.
The carmaker set a goal of producing 150,000 vehicles per year, with 30 percent of them to be powered by VW's TDI Clean Diesel Technology.
The new facility has attracted additional business to the region, including the Chattanooga Seating Systems and Magna Exteriors and Interiors operations which will be located within the VW Chattanooga complex.
Google News