Despite a trend of growing union support, the United Auto Workers (UAW) faced a notable setback at a Mercedes plant in Alabama. Employees at the plant reported that previous unionization efforts were derailed by management tactics, including mandatory anti-union meetings. This time, the UAW claimed 70% support based on signed authorization cards but ultimately lost with only 44% support. UAW President Shawn Fain remains optimistic, stating that the loss is a temporary setback and that the union will continue its efforts. Former NLRB Chair Wilma Liebman suggested that other companies may respond to organizing efforts similarly to Mercedes, but this won't be a fatal setback for the UAW's national organizing efforts. The New Flyer plant and Volkswagen were also mentioned as part of the UAW's ongoing efforts, with a local pastor video being part of the anti-union tactics.
President @LizShuler spoke with @AlexWitt on @MSNBC on how the deck has been stacked against workers and unions in the South for generations – and why the Mercedes @UAW vote won't stop the incredible momentum for worker power. https://t.co/dPSg1KVVgw
Statement from @UAW president Shawn Fain: "I'm not scared at all… We're going to keep doing what we do and I think we're going to win." https://t.co/nsMmdrO1N6
As Mercedes workers vote on whether to unionize, southern political leaders warn of a threat to their economies. Activists see a chance to end exploitation of poor people. https://t.co/w4CaUv3Qz2
UAW's stinging loss in Alabama won't kill national organizing effort https://t.co/a2Da931fCI https://t.co/C0R0hxovt6
UAW's stinging loss in Alabama won't kill national organizing effort @NoraEckert https://t.co/GloqbhM9Zu https://t.co/BrD7XkPVkB
The UAW losing in Alabama was more than a win for workers who didn’t want Michigan suits “representing” them for a steep fee. As @Mike_Saltsman notes, it showed that “card check,” which does away with secret ballot votes - a top Democrat labor priority - is completely senseless https://t.co/0PyD5u22EP
⚠️ ANALYSIS-UAW'S STINGING LOSS IN ALABAMA WON'T KILL NATIONAL ORGANIZING EFFORT Full Story → https://t.co/p0qOICIjMB https://t.co/vQ4xK9E4c3
Workers said Mercedes regularly pulled them into group or 1-on-1 mandatory anti-union meetings, sometimes lasting over an hour. Mercedes texted them a video this week in which a local pastor urged they preserve their ability “to go directly to the company” https://t.co/4wnss0Avn5 https://t.co/vSxc9tE9kE
Key takeaway from the UAW's Mercedes loss: Union authorization cards are a deeply-flawed indicator of true employee sentiment. The UAW claimed it had 70 percent support in the plant, based on signed cards. But lost today with 44 percent support. https://t.co/hq1aAzfaJO
"This is a David and Goliath fight. Sometimes Goliath wins a battle. But David wins the war. These workers will win their fair share. And we will be there every step of the way to support them." https://t.co/c23s4mu1To
Responding to the loss at a Mercedes plant in Alabama, @UAW president Shawn Fain says: "I'm not scared at all ... We're going to keep doing what we do and I think we're going to keep winning. This is a setback ... But no, I think we're gonna be fine." https://t.co/zhvYmFWnGy
“Mercedes is a better place thanks to this campaign & these courageous workers,” says @ShawnFainUAW, citing changes it made like eliminating tiers and replacing local CEO. “What happens next is up to them. Justice isn’t about just one vote or one campaign” https://t.co/4wnss0zXxx https://t.co/vSxc9tDBv6
“The UAW has enough momentum to try again both at the Vance plant and at other auto plants in the South… At Volkswagen, it took a decade.” https://t.co/4wnss0zXxx @NelsonLichtens1 https://t.co/RvJClTp03r
“I would assume that the other companies that the UAW is aiming to organize will respond to the organizing much more like Mercedes did than Volkswagen” says former NLRB chair Wilma Liebman. But “I presume it’s not going to be a fatal or permanent setback” https://t.co/4wnss0zXxx https://t.co/vSxc9tDBv6
From @MercedesBenz on union vote: “Our goal throughout this process was to ensure every eligible Team Member had the opportunity to participate in a fair election. We thank all Team Members who asked questions, engaged in discussions, and ultimately, made their voices heard…”
Undergrads are unionizing, in a sign of labor’s resurgence https://t.co/KLExNv4Xka https://t.co/Ygi5VO7mwk
“When we first started the campaign, it was trying to explain to people that it wouldn’t be some outside entity...taking over the company, that it would just be us going into meetings and going into different decision making situations,” [Mercedes employee Robert] Lett stated." https://t.co/uLvNIG70PH
Employees say previous efforts at the New Flyer plant had been derailed by tactics including mandatory meetings where management portrayed the union as a threat to the factory’s viability. This time, “we didn’t have to sit through all that crap" https://t.co/ip8Yv7kdNw https://t.co/PcFKl30sYu
Support for labor unions grew in 2023 — with workers voting to unionize 83% of the time. Union organizers say an intentional overhaul of their communication strategies helped. https://t.co/FUSto619mP