UAW Leader Announces Mercedes Workers in Alabama Will File for Union Vote This Week
In a groundbreaking move, factory workers at Mercedes Benz’s assembly plant in Alabama are set to file a petition to join the United Auto Workers (UAW) this week. UAW’s Region 8 Director Tim Smith revealed that he had been in Alabama with UAW President Shawn Fain two weeks ago, discussing the upcoming petition with Mercedes workers. Smith expressed his confidence in the workers, stating, “We’re proud of them and they’re going to win also.”
While a union spokesman declined to comment on the exact timeframe for the Mercedes vote, it was revealed in late February that a majority of approximately 6,000 workers at the plant had signed cards indicating their desire to join the union. Fain highlighted the resistance faced by the workers, stating that the company and politicians were pushing back against their efforts. He emphasized that the workers were “fed up with getting screwed.”
Mercedes has not yet responded to the comments made by Smith and Fain. However, a company spokesperson stated earlier on Tuesday that Mercedes has a history of providing competitive compensation and additional benefits to its team members. The spokesperson added that the company preferred direct communication with employees and aimed to ensure that they make an informed decision regarding union representation.
This organizing effort by the UAW, led by Fain, is unprecedented in its scope as it seeks to unionize over a dozen automakers, including Tesla, across the United States. While the UAW has faced setbacks in its attempts to organize facilities owned by Volkswagen and Nissan in the past two decades, Fain remains hopeful. He believes that the union’s recent labor deals with General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis (Chrysler parent company) have emboldened the U.S. labor force, making success more likely this time around.
In addition to the Mercedes vote, another significant push is taking place at Volkswagen’s assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Voting on whether to join the UAW is scheduled to conclude on April 19. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has received multiple unfair labor practice charges filed by the UAW against Mercedes. However, the agency has not yet received a petition for an election at the Alabama plant.
Mercedes maintains that it has not interfered with or retaliated against any team member seeking union representation. This vote at the Mercedes plant is of particular significance as the UAW has previously failed twice in its attempts to organize the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee.
The outcome of the union vote at Mercedes could have far-reaching implications for labor relations within the automotive industry in the United States. As the UAW continues its ambitious organizing efforts, workers are hopeful for a positive outcome that will address their concerns and improve their working conditions.
