A recent meeting between U.S. government officials and its German counterparts involved alleged union-busting allegations in Mercedes-Benz's (DDAIF) Alabama plant — a move that brings even more attention and scrutiny on the automaker's handling of a United Auto Workers campaign and upcoming vote starting on May 13.
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U.S. government officials familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that that officials talked about the allegations brought by the UAW against the German luxury automaker, which include the firing of union activists, as well as holding a mandatory meeting where a Mercedes exec discourages workers to unionize in a recent meeting.
The conversation that took place also included commitments by its respective governments that they will work together to promote unions and worker's rights.
Mercedes is currently under scrutiny for a litany of reported anti-union practices it took to undermine the UAW's campaign across non-union shops and factories in across the south. Though the union has claimed a historic victory at Volkswagen's Chattanooga factory in April, the push for unionization at Mercedes' Vance manufacturing plant was met with resistance from the corporate structure.
According to a March 2024 report by local Alabama publication AL.com, workers have gone to the NLRB and accused the three-pointed star of retaliating against workers at its Alabama plants for organizing or showing support for the UAW.
Mercedes-Benz
In a statement provided by the UAW, multiple Mercedes workers including Lakeisha Carter, Al Ezell and Taylor Snipes, received some sort of retaliatory punishment, or were terminated because of their pro-union stance by plant managers.
Snipes told the UAW that he was terminated for having his phone on the factory floor, and recalled an intimidating meeting he had with management after he spoke up about being made to attend meetings to watch “anti-union videos that are full of lies."
“During the meeting, I told management that it was suspicious that I was being called into the office on the same day that I spoke up in anti-union meeting,” said Snipes. “My manager said the two had nothing to do with one another, but then proceeded to aggressively interrogate me about why I support having a union.”
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Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI) told AL.com at the time that it had ""not interfered with or retaliated against any Team Member in their right to pursue union representation, and we do not agree that the claims have any merit.”
“We look forward to presenting our case to the NLRB,” Mercedes-Benz said. “Additionally, MBUSI rejects claims that it has denied any Team Member leave for their union affiliation. Following the UAW’s nationwide campaign to increase its membership, MBUSI wants to ensure its team members make an informed decision."
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On April 3, the UAW filed charges against Mercedes-Benz Group AG in the automaker's home country, citing seven instances of documented anti-union practices that they allege are in violation of Germany's Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains, which prohibits German firms from disregarding worker's rights to form trade unions.
If found guilty, Mercedes could be face billions of Euros in penalties, fines and a ban on government contracts in Germany.
In a statement, MBUSI said that it "respects our team members’ choice whether to unionize and we look forward to participating in the election process to ensure every team member has a chance to cast their own secret-ballot vote, as well as having access to the information necessary to make an informed choice."
A vote on whether to allow UAW representation at Mercedes' Vance plant in Alabama will take place from May 13-17.
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