NASHVILLE (AP) - Two of the more vocal Republican critics of efforts to unionize the Volkswagen assembly plant in Tennessee are taking opposing approaches to a pending vote on the issue next week.

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, who last year declared that the German automaker would become a "laughingstock" if it opened its doors to the United Auto Workers union, has announced he won't publicly weigh in until after the three-day vote beginning Wednesday.

But Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam isn't dialing back his heavy criticism of the UAW possibly winning representation of workers at its first foreign automaker in the South.

The governor said after a speech to the Tennessee Press Association on Thursday that a union win would hurt the state's ability to attract suppliers and other future business.