Organizing efforts by the United Auto Workers (UAW) at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, Alabama, were unsuccessful, with 56% of employees voting against joining the union. Despite the loss, labor professors and analysts view it as a positive outcome for the UAW’s first attempt in a historically anti-union state.
Historically, the UAW has struggled to organize foreign-owned automakers in the region, making their recent victory at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee significant. Peter Bible, a former General Motors executive involved in labor negotiations, believes that the UAW’s attempts to organize other plants in the South can still be successful, including a future attempt at Mercedes. He expressed surprise at the level of support the UAW received in a traditionally anti-union state and emphasized that worker uncertainty about the industry’s transition to electric vehicles could provide more opportunities for unionization.
Expanding its reach beyond Detroit automakers is crucial for the UAW to maintain its influence within the industry. Earlier this year, the UAW committed $40 million to organizing efforts at more than a dozen non-union automakers, including Toyota and Tesla.
At Mercedes, an aggressive anti-union campaign from the German automaker and southern politicians influenced some workers to vote against the UAW. Six U.S. governors, including Alabama’s Kay Ivey, signed a letter urging workers to reject the union, claiming that unionization would hinder the auto industry’s growth in the South.
However, labor professor Harley Shaiken from the University of California, Berkeley, observed that the UAW had previously faced defeats at Volkswagen in Tennessee before finally achieving victory. The outcome at Mercedes was similar to an earlier loss at VW in 2014 when 53% voted against unionization. The UAW and its representatives have cited organizing progress at a Hyundai plant in Alabama and Toyota plants in Missouri and Kentucky as indicators of their ongoing efforts.
UAW President Shawn Fain acknowledged the defeat but indicated that it was not the end of their mission. He likened the struggle to a David and Goliath fight, asserting that while Goliath (Mercedes) may win battles, David (the UAW) ultimately wins the war. The UAW maintains that it left no stone unturned in its organizing efforts and has no regrets.
Jay White, a Mercedes employee, believed that the UAW overestimated its support. He noted that the anti-union campaign gained momentum in the weeks leading up to the vote as opponents distributed flyers and held individual conversations with coworkers. White’s main concern was the well-being of his team members, company, and job security.
While losses in the region are common, Stephen Silvia, a professor at American University, considers the vote at Mercedes as a positive first step for the UAW. The rejection by Nissan workers in Mississippi in 2017 and Amazon.com warehouse workers in Alabama in 2021 demonstrated the challenge of organizing in the South. Despite the closer loss at Mercedes, analysts believe that organizing in the region will continue to be difficult.
The South is home to more than ten non-union assembly plants in states like Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Automakers including Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Nissan, BMW, Volvo, Hyundai, Kia, and VW operate these plants. The defeat at Mercedes marks one of the first major setbacks for UAW President Shawn Fain since his election in 2023.
Despite the loss, labor professor John Logan from San Francisco State University believes that it is still a favorable time for labor organizing in the United States due to increased public support for unions. He anticipates another election in the South within a year and expects another challenging battle.
In conclusion, the UAW’s unsuccessful attempt to organize the Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama is seen as a positive first effort in an anti-union state. It does not deter the UAW from pursuing future organizing attempts in the region. The outcome at Mercedes is similar to previous losses at Volkswagen, but the UAW remains determined to expand its influence beyond Detroit automakers. The strong anti-union campaign and involvement of southern politicians influenced the vote against the UAW. However, there is optimism that labor organizing can thrive in the United States due to growing public support for unions. The defeat at Mercedes is viewed as a setback for UAW President Shawn Fain but does not diminish the overall momentum for labor organizing efforts.