U.A.W. officials said the new local — which will have voluntary membership and not be recognized by the automaker
But the U.A.W. is taking the unusual step of forming the new local, which will not charge any dues, partly because it remains eager to gain some traction at foreign-owned auto plants in the South, none of which is unionized.
federal law barred the plant from having a works council unless it had an official union selected by majority support.
The company denied that there was any “contract or other formal agreement with the U.A.W. on this matter.”