- The UAW lost the vote for representation at Alabaman Mercedes plants.
- The union has accused the German automaker of illegal union busting and says both the U.S. and German governments are investigating.
- Mercedes says it’ll continue to work to provide a safe and supportive work environment.
The last several months have seen the UAW notch win after win, but that streak came to an end today. The workers at Mercedes-Benz’s Alabama plant voted against union representation. Out of 4,687 people who cast their ballots, only 44 percent favored the union, with 56 percent voting against it. Despite this setback, it doesn’t seem that the UAW is going away anytime soon.
The vote that began on Monday wasn’t without controversy. According to the UAW, Mercedes employed anti-union consultants to intimidate workers. The automaker denies these allegations but is reportedly under investigation in both the USA and Germany. One worker, Rick Garner, claimed that Mercedes had employees watch an anti-union video every day before voting. The UAW has five days to challenge the election. If it chooses not to, it will have to wait a full year before it can call another vote.
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According to WFTV, Governor Kay Ivey saw the vote as a win. “Alabama is not Michigan, and we are not the Sweet Home to the UAW,” she wrote in a post on X. “We urge the UAW to respect the results of this secret ballot election.” At the same time, some of the union supporters on the ground are understandably disappointed. Garner, mentioned above said, “I’m disappointed in the people that flipped and believed the persuaders.”
UAW President Shawn Fain promised that despite the loss, they would continue working to gain members. “There are more than 2,000 workers at Mercedes in Alabama who want to join our union. They aren’t going away. The sun will rise, and the sun will set, and our fight for justice for the working class will continue.”
Mercedes offered a concise statement, concluding with the following sentiments: “At MBUSI, our primary focus is always to provide a safe and supportive work environment for our Team Members, so they can build superior vehicles for the world. We look forward to continuing to work directly with our Team Members to ensure MBUSI is not only their employer of choice, but a place they would recommend to friends and family.”
This defeat for the UAW comes after it won at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee earlier this year. When that happened, it seemed like this vote would go the same way. Now, only time will tell if it ever does become a UAW-represented production facility.