WASHINGTON (AP) — The United Auto Workers is challenging last week's vote by workers at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee rejecting the UAW to represent them.

The union filed an appeal on Friday with the National Labor Relations Board asserting that "interference by politicians and outside special interest groups" had swayed the election.

In particular, the appeal took aim at Republican Sen. Bob Corker, who suggested that a "yes" vote would persuade VW to take jobs elsewhere while a "no" vote would help not only keep auto jobs in Tennessee, but might also persuade Volkswagen to expand its presence in the state.

The UAW lost the vote 712-626.

UAW President Bob King says it's an outrage that politically motivated third parties threatened the economic future of the facility.