UAW Seeks to Overturn Alabama Mercedes-Benz Union Election, Calls for New Vote

{TheChronicle.cc} –The United Auto Workers (UAW) is calling for a new vote at Alabama’s Mercedes-Benz factory. The union has petitioned the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to invalidate last week’s union election at the German automaker’s Vance plant and to mandate a new election.

An NLRB spokesperson confirmed the union’s objections. The regional director of the NLRB will review these objections and may hold a hearing to decide if a second election is warranted.

Earlier this month, the UAW filed unfair labor practice charges against Mercedes-Benz. The union alleges that the company violated labor laws by terminating four pro-union workers and permitting anti-union employees to solicit support during company time, while simultaneously restricting union supporters from doing the same.

A Mercedes-Benz spokesperson responded, stating that over 90 percent of the plant’s workforce participated in a secret-ballot vote, and the majority indicated they were not interested in UAW representation for collective bargaining purposes.

“Our objective throughout this process was to ensure every eligible team member had the chance to participate in a fair election. We had hoped the UAW would respect our team members’ decision. Throughout the election, we collaborated with the NLRB to adhere to its guidelines and will continue to do so as we move forward.

Meanwhile, we will work directly with our team members to maintain our status as an employer of choice and ensure a safe and supportive work environment. We aim to build on the plant’s 25+ years of success, continuing to produce superior vehicles while prioritizing our people.”

Last week, workers at the Vance plant and the Bibb County battery plant voted 2,045 to 2,642 against UAW representation, with a margin of 597 votes.

The UAW issued a statement asserting that the more than 2,000 workers who voted in favor of the union did so despite “an unprecedented, illegal anti-union campaign by their employer.”

“This indicates that in a fair contest, where Mercedes is held accountable for following the law, workers will secure their union,” the UAW stated. “All these workers wanted was a fair chance to have a voice on the job and influence their working conditions.

We’re asking for a vote at Mercedes in Alabama where the company is not allowed to fire, intimidate, or break the law and its own corporate code, and let the workers decide.”

This is not the first time a union has sought to overturn the results of a workplace election. In 2021, workers at Amazon’s Bessemer fulfillment center voted against joining the Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union (RWDSU) in a mail-in election.

However, the NLRB set aside the result after finding that Amazon had interfered in the election process. This occurred following a contentious campaign amid COVID restrictions, drawing attention from celebrities, politicians, and the Biden Administration.