Workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama have begun voting on whether to join the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, marking a significant test of the labor group's ability to maintain momentum in the traditionally anti-union American South. The 5,200 employees at the assembly plant and nearby battery factory will cast ballots throughout the week, with final results expected on Friday.
The UAW's campaign at the Mercedes-Benz facility has been much more contentious compared to its recent victory at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee. The German automaker has urged workers to vote against unionization, according to fliers and signage viewed by Reuters. Mercedes has also hired anti-union firms to speak with workers, as reported by plant employees.
However, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, the subsidiary responsible for the Alabama facilities, has denied allegations of wrongdoing. In a statement, the company said it "has not interfered with or retaliated against any team member in their right to pursue union representation." The automaker added that it "fully respects our team members' choice whether to unionize" and looks forward to participating in the election process to ensure every worker has the opportunity to cast a secret ballot and access the necessary information to make an informed decision.
UAW President Shawn Fain has spent more than a year strategizing his path to win over non-union auto workers, beginning with new labor contracts in Detroit. Fain led the union through its first simultaneous strike against the Detroit Three automakers in 2023, resulting in record agreements that included a 25% wage increase and the return of cost-of-living adjustments. These successful negotiations have become a talking point for pro-UAW workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant, who cite concerns about pay, hours, and benefits as reasons for supporting unionization.
Despite the UAW's recent wins, organizing in the American South remains a significant challenge. The region has historically been more resistant to unions, as evidenced by the UAW's loss at Nissan's Canton, Mississippi, plant in 2017. State governments in the South have also waged strong resistance to unionization, with six governors, including Alabama's Kay Ivey, signing a letter urging workers to reject the UAW.
Workers Brett Garrard and Austin Brooks, who have been actively involved in the union drive, have cited issues such as improved working conditions, more safety training for temporary workers, and more stable work schedules as motivating factors for their support of the UAW. They have also accused the company and its managers of pressuring workers not to support the union, including mandatory anti-union meetings and videos.
Rusty Adair, a professor of practice in management and entrepreneurship at Auburn University in Alabama, believes this is a unique moment for the union. "I don't believe we've seen this level of union activity in the Southeast ever," Adair said, noting that recent UAW victories have gotten the attention of workers in the area.
The outcome of the Mercedes-Benz vote could have significant implications for the UAW's organizing efforts at other non-union auto plants across the country. If successful, the union may gain momentum in its campaigns at Hyundai in Montgomery, Alabama, and Toyota in Troy, Missouri, among others.
