The Fort Worth Press - Mercedes workers reject union in Alabama in setback for labor

USD -
AED 3.67301
AFN 68.925207
ALL 89.068535
AMD 387.025997
ANG 1.800958
AOA 927.769036
ARS 962.482799
AUD 1.463647
AWG 1.8
AZN 1.692558
BAM 1.758607
BBD 2.017597
BDT 119.412111
BGN 1.76035
BHD 0.376816
BIF 2896.873567
BMD 1
BND 1.290407
BOB 6.920459
BRL 5.573898
BSD 0.999267
BTN 83.475763
BWP 13.157504
BYN 3.269863
BYR 19600
BZD 2.014271
CAD 1.354849
CDF 2870.999942
CHF 0.849799
CLF 0.033636
CLP 928.150356
CNY 7.054503
CNH 7.05813
COP 4153.98
CRC 518.220444
CUC 1
CUP 26.5
CVE 99.148919
CZK 22.572797
DJF 177.948231
DKK 6.70772
DOP 60.038755
DZD 132.570581
EGP 48.6673
ERN 15
ETB 119.134403
EUR 0.8994
FJD 2.196903
FKP 0.761559
GBP 0.751159
GEL 2.730053
GGP 0.761559
GHS 15.719405
GIP 0.761559
GMD 68.504011
GNF 8633.099994
GTQ 7.729416
GYD 209.069573
HKD 7.78632
HNL 24.808585
HRK 6.799011
HTG 131.69975
HUF 354.955994
IDR 15180.9
ILS 3.77936
IMP 0.761559
INR 83.550401
IQD 1309.037285
IRR 42092.50286
ISK 136.41025
JEP 0.761559
JMD 156.996035
JOD 0.708703
JPY 143.52604
KES 128.909689
KGS 84.250316
KHR 4060.014478
KMF 441.349686
KPW 899.999433
KRW 1336.964965
KWD 0.30508
KYD 0.832741
KZT 480.493496
LAK 22066.156205
LBP 89488.384222
LKR 304.412922
LRD 199.862418
LSL 17.380846
LTL 2.95274
LVL 0.60489
LYD 4.745013
MAD 9.682092
MDL 17.422737
MGA 4538.138527
MKD 55.40992
MMK 3247.960992
MNT 3397.999955
MOP 8.013938
MRU 39.571447
MUR 45.720394
MVR 15.359766
MWK 1732.812381
MXN 19.417299
MYR 4.202957
MZN 63.850238
NAD 17.380846
NGN 1638.620091
NIO 36.776772
NOK 10.51072
NPR 133.568631
NZD 1.598223
OMR 0.384947
PAB 0.999312
PEN 3.756176
PGK 3.969014
PHP 56.131967
PKR 277.70636
PLN 3.844428
PYG 7777.867695
QAR 3.641211
RON 4.473397
RSD 105.287037
RUB 92.998719
RWF 1348.433826
SAR 3.751663
SBD 8.306937
SCR 13.05804
SDG 601.498351
SEK 10.218795
SGD 1.291215
SHP 0.761559
SLE 22.847303
SLL 20969.494858
SOS 571.066332
SRD 30.204997
STD 20697.981008
SVC 8.7437
SYP 2512.529936
SZL 17.373828
THB 32.956002
TJS 10.622145
TMT 3.5
TND 3.030712
TOP 2.342096
TRY 34.15225
TTD 6.794567
TWD 32.051802
TZS 2729.999556
UAH 41.375667
UGX 3696.560158
UYU 41.587426
UZS 12720.806751
VEF 3622552.534434
VES 36.771153
VND 24620
VUV 118.722009
WST 2.797463
XAF 589.85491
XAG 0.032523
XAU 0.000381
XCD 2.70255
XDR 0.739255
XOF 589.82839
XPF 107.237111
YER 250.324978
ZAR 17.38082
ZMK 9001.20255
ZMW 26.506544
ZWL 321.999592
  • CMSC

    0.0300

    25.15

    +0.12%

  • CMSD

    0.0100

    25.02

    +0.04%

  • SCS

    -0.3900

    12.92

    -3.02%

  • RIO

    -1.6100

    63.57

    -2.53%

  • BCE

    -0.1500

    35.04

    -0.43%

  • AZN

    -0.5200

    78.38

    -0.66%

  • BCC

    -7.1900

    137.5

    -5.23%

  • NGG

    0.7200

    69.55

    +1.04%

  • GSK

    -0.8200

    40.8

    -2.01%

  • JRI

    -0.0800

    13.32

    -0.6%

  • RBGPF

    58.8300

    58.83

    +100%

  • RYCEF

    0.0200

    6.97

    +0.29%

  • RELX

    -0.1400

    47.99

    -0.29%

  • BTI

    -0.1300

    37.44

    -0.35%

  • VOD

    -0.0500

    10.01

    -0.5%

  • BP

    -0.1200

    32.64

    -0.37%

Mercedes workers reject union in Alabama in setback for labor
Mercedes workers reject union in Alabama in setback for labor / Photo: © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File

Mercedes workers reject union in Alabama in setback for labor

Workers at Mercedes-Benz's Alabama facilities have rejected a union drive in a setback to the United Auto Workers' ambitious campaign to organize the American South, according to results released Friday by US authorities.

Text size:

A preliminary tally had 2,642 voting against unionization and 2,045 in favor, a margin of 56 to 44 percent, according to the National Labor Relations Board, which oversaw a five-day vote at the Mercedes auto manufacturing plant and battery complex near Tuscaloosa.

Led by President Shawn Fain, the UAW had high hopes for a second victory after winning an April election at Volkswagen in Tennessee -- the first successful union drive at a plant in a southern US state operated by a foreign automaker.

But in the election at Mercedes-Benz US International (MBUSI), UAW backers faced opposition not only from Mercedes itself, but from state and local officials who warned of job losses and depicted the campaign as a threat to the local economy.

"The workers in Vance have spoken, and they have spoken clearly!" Alabama's Republican Governor Kay Ivey wrote on X.

"Alabama is not Michigan, and we are not the Sweet Home to the UAW," said Ivey, who has fought unionization at Mercedes and at another plant operated by Hyundai.

Fain acknowledged disappointment in the result, and slammed Mercedes for what he called "egregious and illegal behavior" during the campaign, but insisted the UAW would press on with additional campaigns in the South.

"Justice isn't just about one vote or one campaign," Fain told a press conference.

"We're going to keep on fighting."

- David and Goliath? -

Mercedes, which replaced the CEO at MBUSI in late April, thanked employees who "made their voices heard on this important issue," according to a company statement.

"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.

Union backers complained that the company subjected rank-and-file employees to a stream of anti-union communications at mandatory meetings.

Workers who supported unionization have filed unfair labor complaints with the National Labor Relations Board and with German officials, alleging the company flouted a law on supply chain practices.

"The contrast between Volkswagen and Mercedes is Mercedes did a full-out anti-union campaign," said Stephen Silvia, an economics professor at American University in Washington who has written extensively on unionization drives.

"Anti-union campaigns are effective," Silvia added.

The win at Volkswagen had raised hopes within the UAW about additional drives in the South at plants operated by Honda, Toyota, BMW and others.

The union campaign has garnered momentum after the UAW's strike last fall on Detroit automakers General Motors, Ford and Stellantis.

The strike resulted in large wage hikes and lifted the profile of Fain, who enlisted President Joe Biden to appear with auto workers on the picket line.

Robb Lett, a production team member in the Mercedes battery plant who has been part of the union organizing drive, told AFP the Detroit wins "gave us something tangible to point to."

"There are real things that have been won and we can win them too," he said.

But the American South has been a vexing target for organized labor for decades.

The UAW's progress has sparked heavy opposition from southern politicians, who argue the union will undermine the region's success in drawing large companies.

Fain likened the battle to a "David and Goliath" struggle, saying: "Sometimes Goliath wins a battle but ultimately David will win the war."

J.P.Estrada--TFWP