Autoworkers at a Mercedes Benz plant in Alabama voted against joining the United Auto Workers union Friday, potentially stalling hopes of a rapidly growing organizing wave for autoworkers in the southern United States.
Both sides put up strong campaigns, and the result was a close outcome. Out of more than 5,000 eligible voters, workers voted 2,045 to 2,642 against union representation, the National Labor Relations Board said Friday.
The UAW was hoping to carry its strong momentum with the Alabama vote, as its decision to use a “stand up strike” strategy hitting the Big Three automakers all at once brought unprecedented attention and record contracts for workers. And last month, it won a union election at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, its first victory in three attempts to organize the factory.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
