Workers at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, are in their final day of voting on whether to form a union. The United Auto Workers is seeking to represent the plant’s 1,550 eligible employees in what would be its first presence at a U.S. plant owned by a foreign company. The union push has faced intense opposition from Republican lawmakers and outside groups. This week Republican Sen. Bob Corker claimed he had been “assured” that Volkswagen would reward the plant with a new car to build if its workers reject unionization. Volkswagen has denied Corker’s claim, and critics say he is engaged in scare tactics. On Thursday, Corker doubled down on his statement, saying his information is even more credible than Volkswagen’s top local executive, who himself said there is “no connection” between the vote and the company’s plans. Also this week, State Senator Bo Watson said future legislative incentives for Volkswagen could have “a very tough time” if the workers unionize. Right-wing groups have also weighed in. The D.C.-based Americans for Tax Reform has purchased over a dozen local billboards urging workers to vote no. At a UAW news conference, plant worker John Wright criticized what he called outside interference.

John Wright: “It’s kind of outrageous that we have all of these outside groups coming in from Washington, D.C., and other areas trying to influence both our politicians and our local employees into saying no to any type of unionization. They’re an outside party. They don’t know anything about Volkswagen itself. They don’t know anything about us. And really, we kind of see it as a lot of interference.”