Workers at two Mercedes-Benz plants in Alabama have voted against joining the United Auto Workers, the largest autoworkers union in the US. This is a blow to efforts to strengthen the presence of organized labor in the South.
Friday’s vote was seen as a bellwether for the ability of newly emerging labor groups to organize successfully in a part of the country known for keeping union activity at bay.
According to the National Labor Relations Board, the final count was 2,045 in favor and 2,642 against.
In comments after the vote, the UAW president said Shawn Fain praised the workers as “courageous” but acknowledged the outcome as a “setback.”
“They want justice. They lead us, they lead this fight. And that’s what it’s all about,” Fain said, adding that workers had already won key concessions from Mercedes in the run-up to the election.
“Justice is not just about one vote or one campaign. It’s about having a voice and getting your fair share,” Fain said.
In a statement, Mercedes-Benz US International Inc. said. to be happy that his employees could participate in fair elections.
“We thank all team members who asked questions, participated in discussions and ultimately made their voices heard on this important issue,” the company said, adding: “We look forward to continuing to work directly with our team members to ensure to ensure that MBUSI is not only their employer of choice, but also a place they would recommend to friends and family.”
Republican officials waged a vigorous campaign against the organizing efforts. Ahead of Friday’s vote, six Southern governors, all Republicans, were led by Alabama’s Kay Iveywarned of “special interests seeking to infiltrate our state and threaten our jobs and the values we live by.”
Alabama state lawmakers also passed a measure to deny state funding to companies that voluntarily recognize unions. The Republican Speaker of the state House of Representatives, Nathaniel Ledbetter, has called the UAW “a dangerous leech.”
“The forces opposing workers who want to organize a union are powerful and brutal, especially in the American South,” he said Seth Harrisa professor of law and policy at Northeastern University who previously served as President Joe Biden’s chief labor policy adviser.
In a statement after the vote, Ivey praised the outcome.
“The workers in Vance have spoken, and they have spoken clearly!” she said. “Alabama is not Michigan, and we are not the Sweet Home for the UAW.”
The UAW is also organizing a Hyundai plant in Montgomery, Alabama, and recently won a union vote at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga. It also provided new pay increases for other Southern employees working at Daimler Truck after those workers threatened to strike.
“The UAW’s organizing among non-union auto workers will continue, and they will have other successes, building on their victory at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but these election results show us that it will be a long struggle in which workers will some winning battles and losing others,” Harris said.
Organizers had accused Mercedes of underpaying its workers, and the UAW filed multiple unfair labor practice complaints with the National Labor Relations Board.
In response to a question from NBC News, Mercedes declined to comment on the pay structure but said it has “a proven track record of competitively compensating team members and providing many additional benefits.”
It also said it had not interfered with or retaliated against any employee’s right to seek union representation, and that it was cooperating fully with authorities.
“Our primary focus at MBUSI is always to provide a safe and supportive work environment for our team members so they can continue to build safe and superior vehicles for the world,” the company said. “We believe open and direct communication with our team members is the best path forward to ensure continued success.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
