United Auto Workers (UAW) members and supporters line up outside the ZF Chassis Systems factory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S., on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.
Andi Rice | Bloomberg | beautiful images
DETROIT – The United Auto Workers union is challenging the results of a vote held last week by Mercedes-Benz workers in Alabama, in which Workers voted against union representatives and are asking federal officials to order a new election.
Among dozens of allegations, the Detroit union alleges that the German automaker fired four pro-union workers, forced workers to attend anti-union meetings and hindered the union’s ability to lobby. workers’ union.
According to the NLRB, which monitors the election, union organizing failed at the Alabama plant with 56% of the vote, or 2,642 workers, voting against the UAW. More than 90% of the 5,075 eligible Mercedes-Benz workers voted in the election.
“All these workers have ever wanted was a fair opportunity to have a voice on the job and to have a say in their working conditions,” the UAW said in a statement. “And that’s what we’re asking for here. Vote at Mercedes in Alabama, where the company isn’t allowed to fire employees, isn’t allowed to threaten people, and isn’t allowed to violate laws and policies.” Surname”. company rules and let the workers decide.”
The National Labor Relations Board confirmed Friday afternoon that the Atlanta-based office received the UAW’s objections to the election. Friday is the last day unions can file objections and objections to the election.
Mercedes-Benz in a statement Friday said company officials “have worked with the NLRB to comply with its guidelines and we will continue to do so” through the protest process . The automaker said it “sincerely hopes the UAW will respect our Team Members’ decisions.”
The NLRB said its regional directors will review the UAW’s allegations of an unfair election. If she finds that the objection raises substantial and important issues of fact that can best be resolved by a hearing, she will request a hearing. If after the hearing she finds that the employer’s conduct influenced the election, she may order a new election.
The agency also reaffirmed that it is handling and investigating allegations of unfair labor practices filed by the UAW against the automakers, including six allegations of unfair labor practices equal to Mercedes-Benz since March.
After the results were announced, UAW President Shawn Fain accused the company of waging an anti-union campaign, including “serious illegal conduct,” but he declined to discuss the union’s potential plans to protest the outcome.
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain during an online broadcast updated union members on negotiations with Detroit automakers on October 6, 2023.
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Fain said on May 17 that the union would continue to press charges against Mercedes-Benz, alleging that Mercedes-Benz had “disciplined employees for discussing unionization in the workplace.” , banning the distribution of union documents and paraphernalia, monitoring employees, disbanding the union.” advocates, forcing employees to attend audience meetings and making statements suggesting that union activity is futile,” the NLRB previously said.
The result in Alabama was a blow to the UAW’s organizing efforts a month after it won the championship. drive organization of about 4,330 Volkswagen factory workers in Tennessee.
The Mercedes-Benz vote is expected to present more challenges for the union than the vote at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee, where the union has established a presence after two failed organizing efforts in last decade and where it faced less opposition from automakers. .
