Via Nora EckertDETROIT (Reuters) -The United Auto Employees (UAW) union is looking for a brand new election at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama after dropping a vote there final week, in line with a petition filed on Friday with the Nationwide Hard work Family members Board.The union accused Mercedes of enticing “in a continuing anti-union marketing campaign” together with the firing of staff who have been pro-union and maintaining common captive-audience conferences to unfold anti-union perspectives, in line with the submitting.”We sincerely was hoping the UAW would appreciate our crew individuals’ choice. Right through the election, we labored with the NLRB to stick to its pointers and we will be able to proceed to take action as we paintings via this procedure,” a Mercedes spokesperson mentioned.The UAW misplaced when about 56% of the just about 5,000 employees on the Vance, Alabama plant and close by battery manufacturing unit voted in opposition to unionizing. It used to be a troublesome setback for the exertions staff that used to be driving a ancient win final month at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee.The UAW in its submitting mentioned Mercedes’ efforts to steer the vote constituted unfair exertions practices and avoided a loose selection by way of staff, warranting a brand new election.A spokesperson for the NLRB mentioned a regional director will evaluate the union’s objection and may just come to a decision to name for a listening to within the coming weeks.The struggle at Mercedes used to be a lot more contentious than at VW, the place the corporate took a impartial stance, the union and exertions professionals mentioned.For instance, Mercedes leaders often pointed to indicators throughout the plant urging staff to vote no, in line with employees and footage reviewed by way of Reuters.Mercedes additionally changed the manager government of its U.S. industry within the weeks main as much as the vote and inspired staff to offer him a possibility, which some employees mentioned added power to the anti-union marketing campaign.(Reporting Via Nora Eckert; enhancing by way of Peter Henderson and Chris Reese and Chizu Nomiyama)
