I believe in the idea that worker representation is important and a viable and essential concept.
Hollywood actor Danny Glover toured Chattanooga's Volkswagen plant on Friday and later spoke to union members, telling them he supports their efforts to organize the factory.
"I believe in the idea that worker representation is important and a viable and essential concept," Glover said in an interview before addressing members of United Auto Workers Local 42 at the union's headquarters off Bonny Oaks Drive.
Glover's visit to VW came as the German automaker reported that sales of its namesake brand fell 5.3 percent worldwide in October, the first full month since its diesel-rigging scandal.
But, the drop came even as sales rose 3.5 percent in North America last month, according to the German company.
"We are working intensively to regain customers' trust," said Jurgen Stackmann, a member of VW's management board responsible for sales, marketing and after-sales, in a statement.
Glover, a labor supporter who has joined union advocates trying to organize Nissan's Smyrna, Tenn., plant and that company's Canton, Miss., factory, was in Atlanta working on a movie and took up an invitation to visit VW and talk to employees.
"It's been a part of my life," said the actor about union activities. Well known for his role in the Lethal Weapon film series and other movies, he said he's been a member of a union as an actor and his parents were in the Postal Service union. "I believe in the idea of representation and collective bargaining," said Glover.
He said he supported the UAW in February 2014 when it lost an election at the plant by a margin of 712 to 626. Last month, the union filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for another election, this time for a smaller group of 164 maintenance workers at VW.
Volkswagen later objected, saying it would rather see a vote for all production employees. The company also complained about the timing of an election as the automaker struggles to deal with the emissions-cheating issue.
A hearing was held in Chattanooga and an NLRB decision is expected soon.
VW sales barely rose in the U.S. last month, up slightly at 0.2 percent, to 30,400 vehicles. In North America, sales were 51,400, according to the automaker.
Earlier this week, VW said it has temporarily stopped assembling 2016 Passat midsize sedans with diesel engines at its Chattanooga plant as the company halted its sale.
But, the company said its $600 million plant expansion to ready assembly of a new sport utility vehicle in late 2016 is unchanged.
Mike Randle, publisher of Southern Business & Development magazine, said the midsize SUV should have been VW's first production vehicle in Chattanooga rather than the Passat when the factory opened in 2011. Trucks and SUVs are leading the big sales gains many automakers are seeing in the U.S. so far in 2015.
Bill Nunnally, left, and Brooke Chandler check out a new 1.8 liter engine for the Volkswagen Passat in this file photo at the Chattanooga factory.
Actor Danny Glover talks with United Auto Workers Local 42 members at the union's Chattanooga headquarters on Friday."It should have been the first car," Randle said.
In the U.S., VW's slight sales increase came as its transaction price for vehicles fell.
VW's average transaction price in October in the U.S. was $39,110, down 1.6 percent from September, according to Kelley Blue Book.
Akshay Anand of KBB said Volkswagen had the largest month-over-month drop among automakers as the diesel emissions issue weighed on the company.
"Six out of the eight vehicles within its lineup were down from last month," he said. Anand said that only the Golf's transaction price is up from this time last year, potentially reflecting Volks- wagen's "need to offer their vehicles at slightly lower prices since consumer perceptions of the brand may be impacted."
VW reported Friday that in China, its largest single market, the brand grew deliveries in October by 1.8 percent and stopped a downward trend.
However, in Western Europe, the temporary sales stops for vehicles affected by the diesel issue had an impact on sales. In October, the brand delivered 1.3 percent fewer vehicles in Western Europe than a year ago.
Stackmann said that technical measures required for remedial action of the diesels are currently being discussed and a time schedule announced as soon as possible.
"Even though we must still ask customers for a little patience, we will work intensively on their loyalty and satisfaction, which are our top priority," he said.
Through October, VW sales worldwide are 4.87 million vehicles, down 4.7 percent from a year ago, the company reported.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.