Workers at a Volkswagen factory in Tennessee have voted against union representation, a devastating loss that derails the United Auto Workers union's effort to organize Southern factories and in reality to the workers themselves.
VW understands how having a union can boost productivity and allow it greater flexibility in adjusting to downturns. It should know: The rest of its plants are unionized.
The idea is to create a "works council," which are widespread across Europe and enjoy tremendous influence over how plants are run.
German works councils helped the company reduce hours across the board rather than laying people off, containing unemployment until the economy recovered.
So while the vote was no, the structure is Yes, a lesson to learn from Europe. Just a thought.
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