Catherwood LibraryILR School

For many years, a group of technicians at a Nissan factory in Tennessee had been fighting legal battles regarding whether they were eligible for standalone union representation. Unions that have attempted to organize car factories in the South have historically struggled with anti-union pushback from companies and politicians. In this case, Nissan had argued that this group of workers were not distinct enough to form their own unionized bloc of the plant; however, union organizers successfully proved that the technicians performed specialized skills that differentiated them from the rest of the workers in the plant. Now, this specific group of workers at the Nissan plant will finally vote on whether to unionize. The technician workers are hoping to improve work-life balance and resolve issue regarding retirement and health care benefits through union representation.