It's a common refrain among conservative economists and politicians: If only government would end its interference in the affairs of private enterprise, the efficiencies of the free market would buoy the economy, lead to high profits and in turn result in higher wages for everyone. This argument is used to defend corporate-friendly policies of all stripes, including deregulation, opposition to living wages and worker safety protections.

The majority of workers at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., have signed cards authorizing their affiliation with the UAW and the creation of a German-style "works council" at the plant, according to Gary Casteel, a regional director for UAW. Casteel says that the cards count as a legally binding election and that they include a statement about wanting to join VW's Global Works Council. The union has not put forth a formal timeline for official recognition yet.

Companies that do not allow union elections violate human rights, said Bob King, president of the UAW, which is talking with some foreign auto companies that have plants in the United States about a set of principles aimed at ensuring fair elections. Such principles are necessary, King said, because National Labor Relations Board procedures are outdated and allow companies to intimidate workers and spread misinformation. Transplant companies are foreign-owned companies that have plants in the United States.