UAW Local 112 President Working To Organize MBUSI

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

The UAW hasn’t had the best luck unionizing the South thus far, but one man hopes to bring Mercedes around.

Ward’s Auto reports UAW Local 112 president and MBUSI quality operations employee George Jones is leading the effort to organize the 2,200 full-time employees and 1,200 temporary workers in Vance, Ala. The local has support from German union IG Metall and the Daimler World Employee Committee, as well as favorable rulings from the National Labor Relations Board, though Mercedes has appealed a ruling that would allow union leaflets to be distributed in non-work areas.

According to Jones:

We’re the only ones on this little island. Tuscaloosa (Vance) is a cash cow. All we’re asking for is fairness. Management has total control. It’s all about power.

The president is focused on giving a voice to the union as far as job classifications, staffing and perks go, adding that temp workers earn half of the $29 full-timers receive, with no guarantees of becoming full-time, and no benefits. He says that Mercedes also doesn’t offer a pension plan in MBUSI, while the 401(k) plan provided “is like going to the casino,” citing what happened during the early days of the Great Recession.

Jones says it will take a while for Local 112 — whose membership numbers he did not disclose — to organize the facility, with no set time to hold a vote or card check. Should the UAW win in Vance, however, it would be the first transplant-owned light-vehicle assembly plant in the South to be organized.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • APaGttH APaGttH on Mar 12, 2015

    CJinSD must be taking the day off. Union thugs grumble grumble grumble Obama grumble grumble ruining the country grumble grumble grumble socialists grumble grumble Communists grumble grumble right to work grumble grumble grumble fire everyone grumble grumble death to unions grumble grumble teachers grumble grumble grumble Department of Education grumble grumble global warming hoax grumble grumble...

    • See 6 previous
    • Highdesertcat Highdesertcat on Mar 12, 2015

      @highdesertcat I don't know. I would not have voted the last two times had I not had Poling duty. I just could not get behind either of the mainstream candidates. I can't speak for all Independents, but turnout in my district was downright pitiful the last two national elections. For me it is immaterial who gets elected because one is as bad as the other. Hence my equal disdain for both political parties. So now that the roles have reversed on Capitol Hill, the 'crats are the party of NO! Funny how that happens, eh? Long ago I consoled myself with the fact that America always gets exactly what we deserve, because we vote for it! So no matter who is in power in the White House, or who runs the Hill, I'm OK with that as long as they don't ask me to contribute to it or help pay for it. It's all based on how well I did under a president and administration. I did excellent under Reagan. Even better during Clinton. Pretty good with Shrub in spite of 9/11. The worst for me, until now, was Carter. Man, those years were the pits! But for me, O' is even worse, worse than Carter ever was, especially when it comes to our Medicare now -- critical to us since my wife is a three-time cancer survivor from three different cancers. Medicare now routinely disapproves payment for procedures required for cancer survivors, shuttling it to our deductible instead. Like for instance, a pelvic exam OR a pap-smear -- an annual requirement for cancer survivors, now only authorized every TWO years instead of once a year. We'll see how well the unions will like the healthcare changes mandated by O'b*m*care coming to their elaborate plans. I do recognize however that right now is a great time to buy a new car or truck because of the political stability and do-nothing Congress. Nothing to fear. Nothing untoward coming down the pike. The worst is behind us. These are the good old days of car buying. Well, at least for the next two years. But who knows after that?

  • Jpolicke Jpolicke on Mar 12, 2015

    Would a temporary worker be a temporary UAW member? Are they expected to keep paying dues while they're not working?

  • Mikedt Mikedt on Mar 12, 2015

    I find the GM stockholders screaming for cash the more interesting story. What do these pinheads think GM is going to do during the next inevitable auto sales downturn. You know, just like the one we see every 4-5 years? Now if they're handing out bonuses like no tomorrow then as a shareholder you have every right to complain. But if they're investing in new platforms (which now cost billions) or saving for the next downturn, shut up.

    • APaGttH APaGttH on Mar 12, 2015

      Exactly. Stock buy backs primarily benefit large institutional shareholders. Sure, individual investors with 500 shares in a diversified portfolio see their GM stock go up 5% - hooray. I would have rather seen GM say, "we're dropping $5 billion on R&D and a quality improvement program." Stock buy backs are bad, very bad for long term performance of a company, and there is a growing amount of evidence to support that in things like a lack of innovation (in general - not pointed at a single industry) and wage stagnation.

  • Jkross22 Jkross22 on Mar 12, 2015

    How does the $29/hr rate compare to what UAW union people make?

    • Xeranar Xeranar on Mar 12, 2015

      Isn't what he outlined not directly tied to explicit pay raises? He is advocating for more control in how the system works in general.

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