Alabama Mercedes employees decline union, dealing blow to UAW | Business News

In a surprising turn of events, U.S. workers at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama dealt a significant blow to the United Auto Workers (UAW) on Friday by rejecting the union in a closely watched vote. The UAW had hoped to build on recent victories, including securing double-digit raises for Detroit workers and expanding to a Volkswagen factory in Tennessee.

The workers at the plant in Vance, Alabama, and a nearby battery facility voted 2,642 to 2,045 against joining the UAW, with 56% voting “no,” according to the U.S. National Labor Relations Board. The result still needs to be certified, but it marks a setback for the union’s efforts to gain a foothold in the U.S. South.

Harley Shaiken, a labor professor at the University of California, Berkeley, attributed the loss to worker unfamiliarity with the union and pushback from Mercedes. Despite the defeat, UAW President Shawn Fain remained optimistic, stating, “While this loss stings, we’ll keep our heads up. This is a setback, but not the end.”

The loss at Mercedes complicates the UAW’s narrative of expanding its influence, especially in the South, where anti-union sentiment runs high. The company’s efforts to dissuade workers from joining the union, including hanging “no” vote signs around the plant and hiring anti-union firms, likely played a role in the outcome.

Overall, the defeat at Mercedes underscores the challenges the UAW faces in organizing foreign-owned automakers in the South and highlights the region’s historical resistance to unionization. Despite this setback, labor experts believe the UAW will continue its organizing efforts, albeit with a renewed focus on winning over workers in a region that has traditionally been hostile to unions.