UAW VW Road Map Guiding March To Mercedes-Benz

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Following the same road map that led to the ongoing organization efforts at Volkswagen’s plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., the United Auto Workers have allied with German union IG Metall and Daimler’s works council on their march toward Mercedes-Benz’s MBUSI plant in Vance, Ala.

Reuters reports the UAW are doing card checks and distributing propaganda at MBUSI with help from the two German organizing bodies in the former’s ongoing march to unionize the South; other efforts include those at two Nissan plants in Tennessee and Mississippi.

Furthermore, the UAW has gone after Daimler via the National Labor Relations Board over allegations of interference and intimidation of MBUSI workers in exercising their right to organize; the hearing is scheduled for April 7.

Leading the Southern march, UAW regional director Gary Casteel explained how the union was paying attention to globalization and its effect on workers’ rights:

“The companies globalized a long time ago, and workers’ rights didn’t follow suit. It’s time that the workers’ rights caught up, and that’s the reason you see all the interaction between international unions and a global strategy.”

Said interaction comes as the result of the UAW gaining representation with Daimler’s World Employee Committee, whose role is to “strengthen and deepen the dialogue and information transfer between the various employee representatives and unions” according to Daimler in a statement.

While union leaders on both sides of the Atlantic want to see representation at MBUSI, not all of the plant’s 3,000 workers are on board. Elizabeth Kelly, who works as a team leader in quality control during the plant’s overnight shift and is opposed to the UAW, sees no link being what the union is doing with VW and Mercedes:

“The UAW supporters believe that if a union is voted in in Chattanooga, it will help their cause here. I tend to believe that it doesn’t really affect us one way or the other. It’s two totally different companies.”

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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  • Pch101 Pch101 on Feb 14, 2014

    It's hard to take seriously those who consistently resort to hyperbole such as "crony" and "parasite" at the drop of a hat. If you can't make your points in a more measured fashion, then they probably weren't worth making. That kind of rhetoric suggests that there isn't a whole lot of steak to go with that sizzle. Of course, if your goal was to look ridiculous, then please carry on.

    • See 3 previous
    • Xeranar Xeranar on Feb 14, 2014

      Oh please, TTAC B&B can't even differentiate between communism, socialism, and capitalism. They're really classicly misinformed tea party types. Mostly high school educated or if they hold a college degree it is almost certainly in business or another field where they never saw the inside of an economics book let alone a history one. Conservatives really just come in two forms: corporatists and social regressives. Most of these are corporatists willing to sell themselves down river in hopes that they'll be rich someday.

  • El scotto El scotto on Feb 14, 2014

    I'll type slowly so those who watch Fox News can comprehend this. Not all "Unions" are one all-encompassing "Union". There are Trade Unions and there are Labor Unions. Those who use the term "union" to mean any union labor are as ignorant as those who rail on about "them", "those people" and for those who rub jelly beans on themselves as they listen to Rush; the all-encompassing term "government". Showing yourself to be too ignorant and lazy to do something, oh like research and then getting all pissy when people don't fall in lock-step with tin foil hat brigade really shows your complete lack of intellect and ability to find facts. BTW, for those whose jaunty chapeau's are made from Reynold's finest protect: my old union DID NOT endorse Obama in the last election. Rant off. Have a nice day.

  • Master Baiter "That said, the Inflation Reduction Act apparently does run afoul of WTO rules..."Pfft. The Biden administration doesn't care about rules. The Supreme Court said they couldn't forgive student load debt; they did it anyway. Decorum and tradition says you don't prosecute former presidents; they are doing it anyway. They made the CDC suspend evictions though they had no constitutional authority to do so.
  • 1995 SC Good. To misquote Sheryl Crow "If it makes them unhappy, it can't be that bad"
  • 1995 SC The letters on the hatch aren't big enough. hard pass
  • Ajla Those letters look like they are from AutoZone.
  • Analoggrotto Kia EV9 was voted the best vehicle in the world and this is the best TOYOTA can do? Nice try, next.
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