Majority of workers at largest U.S. Mercedes plant sign with UAW

Most employees at an Alabama Mercedes plant have signed union cards with the United Auto Workers, the union announced Tuesday.

The UAW said the support came from workers at Mercedes’ facility in Vance, Alabama. Passing the 50% threshold means the UAW will hold a rally at the plant to bolster support for unionization.

Once the plant reaches over 70% support, the union will file for an election with the National Labor Relations Board.

The Vance plant is the largest Mercedes plant in the U.S., housing more than 6,000 workers who produce some of the company’s popular SUV models such as the GLE and the Mercedes-Maybach GLS.

Much like workers at unionized automotive companies, Alabama Mercedes workers are concerned about the treatment of temporary workers and the tiered employment system.

“We know what the company, what the politicians and what their multimillionaire buddies will say,” Mercedes worker Jeremy Kimbrell said in a video announcing majority support for the UAW. “They’ll say now is not the right time. Or that this is not the right way. But here’s the thing. This is our decision. It’s our life.”

Before workers reached the 50% threshold, Mercedes said it was committed to keeping the doors of communication open and that the company has a history of “competitively compensating team members and providing many additional benefits.”

Tuesday’s announcement comes just one week after the UAW announced it would dedicate $40 million toward unionization efforts across the country for the next two years.

After securing historic contracts with the Detroit automakers late last year, the UAW announced it intended to unionize nonunion auto shops in the U.S. Over the past few months, the union has targeted Hyundai, Honda, Mercedes and Volkswagen, all with relative success.

The Vance plant is the second production center to reach 50% support for the UAW. This month, VW’s Chattanooga, Tennessee, facility also reached that important threshold.