The United Auto Workers (UAW) union is questioning the outcome of the recent vote at Mercedes-Benz’s Alabama plant, where workers voted against having a union.
The union claims that four employees supporting the union were fired by the company, workers were made to attend meetings against the union, and their ability to support the union was disrupted.
The UAW wants the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to organize a new vote.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union is disputing the outcome of a recent vote at Mercedes-Benz’s Alabama plant. They’re asking federal officials to organize a new vote.
The union claims that the carmaker fired four workers who supported the union, made workers attend meetings against the union, and interfered with their efforts to promote the union.
According to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), 56% of workers voted against joining the UAW. The UAW says they just want a fair chance for workers to decide.
The NLRB received the UAW’s objections to the election, and they’ll review them. If they find serious issues, they may order a new vote.
Mercedes-Benz says they followed the NLRB’s rules and hopes the UAW will accept the workers’ decision.
The NLRB is also investigating claims of unfair labor practices by the UAW against Mercedes-Benz and other carmakers.
The UAW accuses Mercedes-Benz of running an anti-union campaign, but they haven’t said what they’ll do next.
Fain announced on May 17 that the union will keep pursuing its complaints against Mercedes-Benz. These complaints claim that the company punished employees for talking about joining a union at work, stopped them from sharing union materials, watched employees closely, fired union supporters, made employees attend meetings against the union, and said things to discourage union activity, according to the NLRB.
The Alabama vote results were disappointing for the UAW, especially after their success in getting around 4,330 Volkswagen plant workers in Tennessee to join the union last month.
The Mercedes-Benz vote was tougher for the union compared to the Volkswagen plant vote in Tennessee. The union had tried to organize at the Volkswagen plant before, facing two failed attempts in the past ten years. Plus, there was less resistance from the automaker in Tennessee.