UPDATE: The Volkswagen UAW meetings scheduled for this weekend have been postponed.
The UAW said the updates will be relayed when more information is available.
PREVIOUS STORY: Nearly half of Volkswagen Chattanooga employees have signed union authorization cards.
The United Autoworkers Union says that 2,000 of Volkswagen's 5,500 workers in Chattanooga have made their preferences for unionization known.
Since announcing the plan to start a union last month, another thousand VW employees have signed a card.
UAW President Shawn Fain shared that update, as well as saying UAW Vice President Chuck Browning will be in Chattanooga this weekend, meeting with VW workers in a video released earlier this week.
Fain said if nonunion autoworkers had standards of the big three [automakers], they'd bring home thousands of more dollars than they are today.
"Instead of that money funneled back to Germany, Japan, Korea or some other billionaire's pocket it would stay in Chattanooga," Fain said in the video message. "It would be invested in local businesses, in local communities with local families."
"From Germany to South Africa to Brazil Volkswagen workers have a union, but in Tennessee they are told we can't afford that here," Fain explained.
Fain also has accused Volkswagen of union-busting tactics.
Volkswagen has denied claims of union-busting, intimidation or illegal violations of worker rights at the plant.
Early in January, Mercedes-Benz workers from at Tuscaloosa, AL, plant announced that they will launch a public campaign to join the United Auto Workers union.
Volkswagen responded to the UAW's claims with a statement:
"Volkswagen is proud of the world-class manufacturing facility we have created in Chattanooga and the 5,500 employees who make it run. We are committed to investing in America, in our community and, most importantly, in our employees – who have a strong voice in their workplace. We are also committed to providing clear, transparent, and timely information that helps inform our employees and managers on their legal rights and obligations, which is especially important in an atmosphere of deliberate misinformation."
