DETROIT, March 13 (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers

union said Thursday it filed unfair labor practice charges

against Volkswagen, saying the automaker is trying to cut jobs

at a factory in Tennessee where the union is negotiating its

first contract after winning an election there last year.

"The UAW has notified the Trump Administration of

Volkswagen's unacceptable, anti-union, anti-worker, and

anti-American conduct," UAW President Shawn Fain said in a

statement.

A spokesperson for Volkswagen said it is cutting production

in Tennessee to a two-shift model out of caution for lowered EV

demand. Workers at the Tennessee plant assemble the ID.4

electric SUV.

The Germany-based automaker is offering production employees

a "voluntary attrition program," including a severance package,

retirement options and benefits, the spokesperson said.

"We remain committed to our team members, our customers, and

our presence in Chattanooga. This change supports that

commitment," the company said in a statement.

The auto union won an election at the Chattanooga, Tennessee

factory last April, making it the first auto plant in the South

to unionize via election since the 1940s and the first

foreign-owned auto plant in the South to do so.