After the United Auto Workers’ success at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, the journey continues south to Alabama. Here, workers at another large plant will have the opportunity to decide if they too wish to join the union.
If the workers at Mercedes-Benz also give their approval, the next significant challenges could arise in South Carolina and Georgia.
Arthur Wheaton, director of labor studies for Cornell University’s school of industrial relations, believes that if the Alabama vote is successful, it could initiate a chain reaction in other Southern states. He acknowledges the strong momentum of the UAW and suggests that there is a good chance they will emerge victorious in the initial election.
Mercedes-Benz officials, based in metro Atlanta, have stated that they value the choices made by their employees regarding unionization. In a statement, they expressed their anticipation for the election process, emphasizing the importance of each team member being able to vote anonymously and make an informed decision by having access to relevant information.
However, once a majority of workers expressed their desire to join the UAW by signing cards, federal officials promptly scheduled a vote for mid-May.
Tim Smith, the director of the UAW’s Region 8, which covers a significant portion of the South, mentioned that there are no other upcoming elections to be announced before the Alabama election. He emphasized that the focus at the moment is solely on Alabama.
Last year, the UAW successfully conducted strikes against three U.S. automakers, resulting in substantial salary increases for workers. In late February, the UAW announced a $40 million investment towards an organizing drive, targeting non-union workers in auto and battery plants, with a particular focus on the Southern region.
“We are relying on workers to take a stand,” Smith emphasized. “They will be the ones to voice their desires and preferences to us.”
The region presents a challenging landscape where the progress of the union will encounter historical, political, cultural, and legislative barriers. The resounding success, following two unsuccessful endeavors at Volkswagen, marked a significant and unexpected shift in direction.
Labor historian Erik Loomis from the University of Rhode Island acknowledges the lack of organization in the South, which poses a significant challenge for the union. However, he believes that the South is evolving and becoming different from what it was a decade ago. This presents a potential opportunity for a transformation in the union movement.
He compared it to the sit-down strike at the Flint, Mich., General Motors plant in the 1930s. Despite numerous failed and often violent attempts to organize the auto industry, the union finally achieved a victory. This triumph had a profound impact, extending its influence throughout the sector and even reaching related businesses such as rubber and steel.
According to Loomis, Flint successfully encouraged workers to overcome their fears of the potential consequences of unionizing.
Critics argue that unions pose economic threats as they lead to increased costs, reduced production efficiency, and contribute to the outsourcing trend observed in various industries, such as textiles. Over the years, union membership, including in the auto industry, has significantly declined.
Many foreign manufacturers have opted to establish production facilities in the South to cater to the American market, mainly due to the region’s long-standing aversion to labor unions. A notable example is the Georgia Legislature, which recently enacted a bill aimed at reducing state economic incentives for companies that willingly permit unionization.
A joint statement from six Southern governors, including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Tennessee’s Bill Lee, and Alabama’s Kay Ivey, conveyed their concerns about the potential consequences of VW workers joining the UAW. They emphasized the possibility of job loss and the potential threat to the region’s economic progress.
The message of that nature played a role in the failure of two previous unionization campaigns in Chattanooga. However, this time, the union emerged victorious with an overwhelming 73% of the vote.
The VW plant may not serve as a blueprint for other factories to emulate. While it was the third attempt to unionize, the plant’s urban location sets it apart from the Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa and other factories in Georgia, such as the Kia plant in West Point, the upcoming Hyundai and Rivian auto plants, and the SK Battery factory.
Rivian, an automotive company, is headquartered in California, while the other major plants in Georgia are owned by South Korean companies.
VW’s ownership is based in Germany, a country known for its highly unionized manufacturing sector and even having a union member on the company’s board of directors. Although VW may not have desired a union in Chattanooga, they maintained an official stance of neutrality, partly to avoid any potential backlash from their own workers, according to Loomis.
Loomis mentioned that it is not a coincidence that the next campaign is taking place at Mercedes-Benz, which is also headquartered in Germany. According to him, there is a specific reason why the UAW is prioritizing the German plants.
According to the expert, if the union succeeds in Alabama, they might shift their focus to South Carolina next. This is because South Carolina is home to BMW’s plant, which employs around 11,000 workers near Spartanburg.
According to Jeremy Kimbrell, a worker at the plant for 24 years, Mercedes-Benz has actively tried to convince the approximately 5,000 wage workers at the plant to vote against a union.
John, one of the factory workers, expressed his frustration with the constant stream of alarming news about the potential closure of the plant and the financial consequences it may bring. He found it amusing, considering the significant profit margins the company enjoys from the products they manufacture.
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