That was a different internet. In that unregulated internet there was no moron with unlimited money trying to ruin everything.

VW wanted the union at the first vote.

https://truthout.org/articles/volkswagen-workers-vote-on-union-works-council-scheme/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/union-vote-at-volkswagen-tennessee-plant-heading-to-close-1392379887

The VW management, the German union and the German Workers council wanted the plant to unionize. VW is a lot more pro union than Amazon. Die to German law there are a lot of union members on the board. The 2014 vote was opposed by local politicians, mainly republicans.

VW tried twice to unionize their US factory in Chattanooga. Both times the workers voted against unionisation. VW does a lot for unions and workers councils compared to other companies.