The UAW accused Mercedes of unlawful union busting techniques too however the automaker denies that
- The UAW misplaced the vote for illustration at Alabaman Mercedes vegetation.
- The union has accused the German automaker of unlawful union busting and says each the U.S. and German governments are investigating.
- Mercedes says it’ll proceed to work to offer a secure and supportive work atmosphere.
The final a number of months have seen the UAW notch win after win, however that streak got here to an finish right now. The employees at Mercedes-Benz’s Alabama plant voted towards union illustration. Out of 4,687 individuals who forged their ballots, solely 44 p.c favored the union, with 56 p.c voting towards it. Regardless of this setback, it doesn’t appear that the UAW goes away anytime quickly.
The vote that started on Monday wasn’t with out controversy. In line with the UAW, Mercedes employed anti-union consultants to intimidate staff. The automaker denies these allegations however is reportedly underneath investigation in each the USA and Germany. One employee, Rick Garner, claimed that Mercedes had workers watch an anti-union video every single day earlier than voting. The UAW has 5 days to problem the election. If it chooses to not, it should wait a full yr earlier than it could possibly name one other vote.
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In line with WFTV, Governor Kay Ivey noticed the vote as a win. “Alabama shouldn’t be Michigan, and we’re not the Candy House to the UAW,” she wrote in a publish on X. “We urge the UAW to respect the outcomes of this secret poll election.” On the identical time, a number of the union supporters on the bottom are understandably dissatisfied. Garner, talked about above mentioned, “I’m dissatisfied within the people who flipped and believed the persuaders.”
UAW President Shawn Fain promised that regardless of the loss, they’d proceed working to achieve members. “There are greater than 2,000 staff at Mercedes in Alabama who need to be a part of our union. They aren’t going away. The solar will rise, and the solar will set, and our struggle for justice for the working class will proceed.”
Mercedes provided a concise assertion, concluding with the next sentiments: “At MBUSI, our major focus is all the time to offer a secure and supportive work atmosphere for our Workforce Members, to allow them to construct superior autos for the world. We stay up for persevering with to work instantly with our Workforce Members to make sure MBUSI shouldn’t be solely their employer of alternative, however a spot they’d advocate to family and friends.”
This defeat for the UAW comes after it gained at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee earlier this yr. When that occurred, it appeared like this vote would go the identical approach. Now, solely time will inform if it ever does grow to be a UAW-represented manufacturing facility.
Picture Credit score: UAW
