Mercedes-Benz had actively campaigned against the union
Workers at two Mercedes-Benz factories in Alabama decisively voted against joining the United Automobile Workers on Friday, dealing a blow to the UAW’s efforts to expand in the South.
The final tally, according to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), revealed 2,642 votes against unionizing, while 2,045 voted to join the union.
Mercedes-Benz had actively campaigned against the union, emphasizing their commitment to address worker concerns internally. Close to 4,700 out of 5,075 eligible employees participated in the ballot.
The defeat contrasts with the UAW’s recent success at Volkswagen’s assembly factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A win in Alabama would have further strengthened UAW President Shawn Fain’s position.
Despite the setback, Fain is determined to grow the union, planning to invest $40 million in organizing auto and electric vehicle workers in the South, targeting companies like BMW, Honda and Nissan.
UAW’s recent victories at a Volkswagen factory in Tennessee, and favorable contract wins from Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis have strengthened the union’s resolve.
GM’s top-scale production workers are expected to earn nearly $43 per hour by the contract’s end, plus annual profit-sharing bonuses.
The South is a challenge for unions.
Union membership rate among the state residents is at 7.5% (2.5% lower than the rest of the country), per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Now, both sides have five days to file an objection to vote.