Mercedes Plant Workers in Alabama to Vote on Joining UAW

Key Points:

• Employees at the Mercedes plant in Vance, Alabama will vote on joining the UAW next month.
• The union’s new contract with Daimler Truck includes a 25% wage increase over four years.
• The win will build momentum for the UAW’s broad ambitions to unionize more of the U.S. auto sector.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has secured a new labor contract with Daimler Truck at an assembly plant in Alabama. This development may influence more workers at the nearby Mercedes factory to vote in favor of joining the UAW.

Upcoming Vote

Employees at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Vance, Alabama, and a nearby battery plant in Woodstock, will vote on being represented by the union in an election to be finalized on May 17. This election follows a recent vote at VW’s plant in Tennessee, indicating growing support for unionization in the auto sector.

Recent Contract Agreement

On Friday, the UAW signed a new labor contract with Daimler Truck, offering a 25% general wage increase over four years, profit-sharing programs, and cost-of-living adjustments. UAW president Shawn Fain sees this as a positive step for hourly workers across the industry.

Industry Impact

Labor experts believe that the successful contract with Daimler Truck will encourage workers at the Mercedes-Benz factory to consider joining the UAW. The president of UAW Local 3520 representing Daimler Truck workers expressed hope that this victory would resonate with employees at the Mercedes plant.

Potential Strike Averted

Workers at the Daimler plant were prepared to strike if an agreement was not reached. This outcome could have influenced the decision of employees at the Mercedes factory regarding unionization.

This development marks a significant moment for labor relations in the auto industry, setting an example for workers across the South and beyond.