In a resounding vote that may herald a new era for labor in the South, Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee have decided to throw in their lot with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, according to WSMV. The final tally stood at 2,628 to 985 in favor of unionizing, forming the first Southern autoworker union outside of Detroit's traditional strongholds. The National Labor Relations Board confirmed the numbers, along with a turnout that saw 83.5% of the 4,300 production workers vote.

In a historical first test, the UAW's renewed organizing efforts appear to have borne fruit, as workers at the Chattanooga plant have previously rejected union membership twice. Running the election, the NLRB declared the union had five business days to file any objections. Once this grace period elapses without contention, the two parties must "begin bargaining in good faith," as NBC News reported.

UAW's newfound success in Chattanooga has prompted President Joe Biden to issue a statement, recognizing the union's win as part of a larger trend of organized labor's resurgence across different sectors in the country. "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," Biden celebrated. The President's endorsement of the union's endeavors was duly noted in comments obtained by NBC News.

The vote outcomes crossed wires just days after powerful voices, such as Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, warned employees that unionizing could put their jobs and the region's economic climate at risk. Notwithstanding, Governor Lee and his cohorts from five other Southern states, their joint statement, criticizing the UAW, clearly tried to unscrew the situation that UAW's presence might impose on local industry norms, as reported by ABC News.

The UAW, energized by a leadership shake-up and the successful contract negotiations with Detroit automakers, may see this victory as a beachhead for a broader push into nonunion territories. The prevailing mood among workers suggests a readiness to improve their station. "Workers are fed up in being left behind," Shawn Fain, UAW President told WSMV in light of the vote, optimistic about the union's prospects.