Key Points
- Mercedes-Benz workers in Alabama voted against joining the UAW, with 56% voting “no.” The rejection follows the UAW’s recent successes.
- Each workplace’s unique circumstances impact unionization outcomes, with the Mercedes defeat not guaranteeing future losses.
- Mercedes opposed the union, hiring anti-union firms and displaying “no” signs around the plant, which led to the decisive vote.
- Political opposition was significant, with six governors urging workers to reject the UAW. Anti-union sentiment grew among workers.
U.S. workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama delivered a significant blow to the United Auto Workers (UAW) on Friday, rejecting the union in a vote that the UAW had hoped would extend its influence in the U.S. South. The vote followed a recent victory at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee, part of the union’s broader $40 million campaign to organize workers at other automakers, including Toyota and Tesla.
The rejection marked the first major defeat for the UAW after a series of successes, such as securing double-digit raises for Detroit workers and expanding to the Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga. The result leaves the union’s next steps uncertain. According to the U.S. National Labor Relations Board, workers at the Mercedes plant in Vance, Alabama, and a nearby battery facility voted 2,642 to 2,045 against joining the UAW, with 56% voting “no.” The outcome still awaits certification.
The UAW had hoped to build on recent wins, including a significant victory at a VW plant in Tennessee and a lucrative new contract at six Daimler Truck facilities in the South. Daimler Truck was previously part of what is now Mercedes. The union had also progressed at a Hyundai plant in Alabama and Toyota plants in Missouri and Kentucky.
A victory at the Mercedes plant would have marked the UAW’s second success in organizing a foreign-owned automaker in the U.S. South. Instead, the union now faces the challenge of winning over workers in a region historically resistant to unionization. Expanding beyond Detroit automakers is crucial for the UAW to maintain its industry influence.
The politically conservative South has often viewed unions as adversaries, passing laws that hinder their operations. Anti-union rhetoric suggests that companies are more likely to close unionized factories. A previous UAW corruption scandal further damaged the union’s reputation. Despite recent wins, including the Chattanooga Volkswagen victory, the UAW has faced numerous defeats. Nissan workers in Mississippi rejected the union by a wide margin in 2017, and Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama voted against unionizing in 2021.
Mercedes made its stance clear before the vote, displaying “no” signs and hiring anti-union firms to discuss the risks of unionization with workers. UAW President Fain accused Mercedes of illegal behavior, which the company denied. Mercedes stated its goal was a fair election and wanted to continue working directly with employees.
Political opposition was strong, with six U.S. governors, including Alabama’s Kay Ivey, urging workers to reject the UAW. Mercedes’ recent appointment of a new president for its U.S. operations raised worker hopes for improved conditions without the union. Anti-union worker Melissa Howell, a long-time employee, expressed relief at the vote’s outcome, noting a shift in attitudes against the union in the campaign’s final days.
