Well, at least my dismal record of predicting political outcomes remains intact.

Tennessee autoworkers have rejected a bid by the United Auto Workers to unionize the operation. I had thought most of the workers would seek to join the UAW — and I said so on this blog.

Silly me.

Auto workers reject union in Tennessee

I get that the UAW lost the vote and I’ll accept that outcome. That was their call.

What’s still difficult to accept is the interference thrown in front of the effort to unionize the workers by a member of the U.S. Senate, a former mayor of the city where the Volkswagen plant is located. Republican Bob Corker argued vehemently against the unionizing effort and threatened the VW plant with retribution if its workers endorsed the UAW effort.

The troubling aspect of this is not that Corker opposed the union per se. It is that he was elected ostensibly as a pro-business conservative who, I think I presume correctly, has suggested that government should stay out of the affairs of private business. VW moguls had said they would not oppose the unionizing of its Chattanooga, Tenn. workforce.

So why did the Distinguished Gentleman feel the need to throw the weight of his public office, his own high profile in the state and the power of the federal government behind something that was essentially a private business decision?

What’s done is done. This particular VW plant’s workers won’t be unionized. I’m hoping the company treats them right.

I ought to stay the heck out of the predicting business.

A Tennessee politician — a self-proclaimed pro-business conservative — is doing something that simply boggles the mind.

He is trying to use government muscle to coerce a major automaker from allowing its workers to unionize.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/02/12/sen-bob-corker-cant-stand-the-united-auto-workers-an-annotated-interview/

The politician is U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, a Republican and a former mayor of Chattanooga, Tenn. The automaker is Volkswagen, which years ago built a huge auto assembly plant in that fine city. The United Auto Workers is now trying to get a toehold in the plant by unionizing its 1,500 employees. The company says it won’t fight the idea. The autoworkers appear ready to join the UAW.

A business is entitled to conduct its affairs as it sees fit, according to many conservative Republicans. Except, apparently, when it involves the introduction of unions that historically have favored Democratic politicians.

So, enter Sen. Corker, the aforementioned pro-business conservative. He doesn’t want the UAW involved. To make his point, Corker is threatening to deny Volkswagen tax incentives that go normally to businesses seeking to expand. The threat is meant to dissuade the employees from voting to join the union.

What gives here? Is Corker a true conservative or has he become a closet — dare I say it — socialist who believes in government interference in private businesses’ affairs? Which is it, senator?

This interference is unconscionable.