UAW files petition to hold new elections at Mercedes plant

The United Automotive Workers (UAW) has filed a petition to hold new elections at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama, after workers at the company voted against joining the union last week.

In a union election last week at the Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 56 percent of workers voted against joining the UAW, although the union accused the automaker of anti-union tactics and signs encouraging employees to vote no. On Friday, the UAW formally filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold new elections at the plant, citing a “relentless anti-union campaign,” according to a report from the Automotive News.

The filing also alleges that Mercedes fired pro-union employees and held regular anti-union meetings.

“We sincerely hoped that the UAW would respect the decision of our team members,” a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson said. “Throughout the election, we have worked with the NLRB to adhere to its guidelines and will continue to do so throughout this process.”

In the recent election, 56 percent of the approximately 4,687 votes cast were against the Mercedes factory’s recognition of the UAW.

The election follows a similar union election at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where about 73 percent of workers voted to join the UAW last month. It also comes after the UAW launched union drives at Tesla, Toyota, Hyundai, Rivian and nine others, including Volkswagen and Mercedes.

Last year, the UAW staged six-week strikes against Ford, General Motors (GM), and Stellantis, ultimately securing record pay raises for employees in contract negotiations. After widespread speculation that the UAW would set its sights on Tesla, the union officially launched the updated campaigns in November.

At the time, UAW President Shawn Fain also called workers at Tesla and Toyota “members of the future,” later saying he hoped to see a “Big Five or Six” at the table. negotiation in 2028, instead of just the Big Three. .

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