The United Auto Workers (UAW) has doubled its chances of organizing a non-union, foreign-owned U.S. plant as workers at a Volkswagen auto plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee vote on UAW representation. At the same time, their counterparts at two Mercedes-Benz facilities in Alabama will also get the opportunity to decide whether to join the union. The vote at the Mercedes-Benz plants in Vance and Woodstock, Alabama is scheduled to take place from May 13 to 17, according to the National Labor Relations Board.
The decision to hold the election at the Mercedes-Benz plants was reached without the need for a pre-election hearing, with both sides agreeing to the dates and conditions, as stated in a filing by the NLRB. All full-time and regular part-time production and maintenance workers employed by Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. at its Vance and Woodstock, Alabama facilities are eligible to participate in the election. Excluded from voting are employees of contractors, employee leasing companies, or temporary agencies, as well as student workers, professional employees, guards, managers, and supervisors, as noted in the filing.
The ongoing vote at the Volkswagen plant and the upcoming balloting at the Mercedes-Benz facilities in Alabama offer the UAW its best opportunities to secure victories in its long-standing efforts to organize workers at non-union, foreign-owned U.S. auto plants. UAW President Shawn Fain has expressed confidence in the union’s ability to expand its membership, with plans to include workers from other automakers with non-union employees in future contract negotiations. Fain highlighted the need to address growing inequality and corporate greed, stating that workers are tired of being left behind.
Jeremy Kimbrell, a veteran worker at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, is involved in organizing the pro-union effort and remains optimistic about the likelihood of his co-workers voting to join the UAW. He emphasized the lack of alternative means for workers to have their voices heard by the company and expressed the importance of union representation. In addition to the efforts at Mercedes-Benz, the UAW is also working towards organizing workers at U.S. plants owned by Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, and Tesla.
The outcome of the vote at the Volkswagen plant is expected to be announced on Friday. If successful, the UAW will secure its first victory in the Southern region and increase its membership by over 3,000 workers. A win in Tennessee could provide momentum for success in Alabama and other states as the union aims to reverse its declining membership and overcome challenges in traditionally union-averse regions. The results of the ongoing organizing efforts at foreign-owned auto plants in the U.S. have the potential to reshape the landscape of the labor movement and empower workers to advocate for their rights and interests in the face of corporate power.
