Volkswagen employees at the Chattanooga plant are bracing for what could become a pivotal moment in their year-long labor negotiations.

The automaker issued its “best and final offer” earlier this month — but with no agreement in sight, the United Auto Workers is now holding strike training meetings.

UAW Vice President Chuck Browning emphasized that the meetings don’t mean a strike is certain, but rather a show of unity.

“It doesn't mean we're going on strike, it doesn't mean we're walking away from negotiations. It means we're sticking together until we get what we deserve,” Browning said.

Director and chief economist of UTC's Center for Regional Economic Research, Howard Wall, says the consequences of a strike would be felt immediately by both employees and the company.

“If there's

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