United Auto Workers (UAW) members and supporters on a picket line outside the ZF Chassis Systems plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, US, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.
Andi Rice | Bloomberg | Getty Images
DETROIT – The United Auto Workers union is challenging the results of last week’s organizing vote of Mercedes-Benz workers in Alabama — in which workers voted against union representation — and is asking federal officials to order a new election.
The union alleges the German automaker fired four pro-union workers, forced workers to attend anti-union meetings and interfered with workers’ ability to advocate for the union, among a dozen or so other claims.
The National Labor Relations Board confirmed Friday afternoon that its Atlanta-based office received the UAW’s objections to the election.
Union organizing failed at the Alabama plant with 56% of the vote, or 2,642 workers, casting ballots against the UAW, according to the NLRB, which oversaw the election. More than 90% of the 5,075 eligible Mercedes-Benz workers voted in the election.
This is a developing story. Please check back for additional updates.
The recent vote at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama has stirred up controversy and legal action as the United Auto Workers union challenges the results. Despite a majority of workers voting against union representation, the UAW has raised allegations of misconduct by the German automaker and is pushing for a new election.
The union claims that several pro-union workers were unjustly fired, and that there were attempts to discourage union support through mandatory anti-union meetings. These actions, along with other interference with the workers’ rights, have prompted the UAW to seek federal intervention.
The National Labor Relations Board has acknowledged the UAW’s objections to the election, signaling the start of a potential legal battle over the validity of the voting process. With more than 90% of eligible workers participating in the election, the outcome has significant implications for both the union and the automaker.
As this story continues to develop, it remains to be seen how the legal proceedings will unfold and what impact they will have on the labor relations at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama. Stay tuned for updates on this evolving situation.