Mercedes-Benz Workers In Alabama Reject Union

Mercedes-Benz workers in Alabama have voted against joining the United Auto Workers, a setback for the union as it tries to organize the auto industry in the South.

The vote count at the German manufacturer’s facilities in Vance, near Tuscaloosa, was 2,045 to 2,642 against the union, according to a preliminary tally from the National Labor Relations Board. More than 5,000 workers were eligible to cast ballots in the weeklong election that ended Friday.

The union has a week to challenge the results.

The UAW was coming off a historic victory at Volkswagen’s Tennessee plant last month, where workers had voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionization. But the loss at Mercedes could slow the union’s plans to organize more foreign-owned auto facilities in Southern states.

UAW President Shawn Fain said in a press conference following the results that the union and its supporters had “left everything on the table.”

“While this loss stings, I’ll tell you this: We’re gonna keep our heads up,” Fain said. “We fought the good fight and we’re going to continue forward. Ultimately, these workers here are going to win.”

Mercedes thanked employees for voting in a statement following the election.

“Our goal throughout this process was to ensure every eligible Team Member had the opportunity to participate in a fair election,” the company said.

But Fain accused Mercedes of engaging in “egregious illegal behavior” by pressuring employees to vote against the union.

“We’ve been here before. We know what we’re taking on,” he said. “This company, like most others, operated off the same playbook … fears, threats, intimidation.”

The UAW has long represented auto workers at the “Big Three” of Ford, General Motors and Jeep parent company