UAW | United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America
  • About
    • UAW CONSTITUTION
    • PROCEEDINGS BOOKS
    • EXECUTIVE BOARD
    • REGIONS
    • UAW-LUCA
    • COMMUNITY SERVICE
    • SOLIDWEB
    • STRIKE FAQ
    • DUES FAQ
    • MORE INFORMATION
  • Ethics
    • ETHICAL PRACTICE CODES
    • ETHICS HOTLINE FAQ
    • ETHICS HOTLINE: 877-866-9682 
    • ETHICS ONLINE FORM
    • ETHICS REFORMS OVERVIEW / UAW ETHICS OFFICER
  • Members
    • WEINGARTEN RIGHTS CARD
    • 2023 SBC RESOLUTIONS
    • AUTO BARGAINING
      • ARAMARK
      • JONES LANG LASALLE
    • UAW WOMEN
    • STANDING COMMITTEES
      • UAW WOMEN’S COMMITTEE
      • CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
      • CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS
      • UNION LABEL
      • CITIZENSHIP AND LEGISLATIVE (CAP)
      • EDUCATION
      • CONSUMER AFFAIRS
      • CONSERVATION AND RECREATION
      • VETERANS
      • COMMUNITY SERVICES
      • UAW WOMEN
    • RETIREES
    • IEB ELECTIONS
      • 2022 IEB Elections
      • 2023 RUN-OFF ELECTION INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT CANDIDATE FORUM
      • 2022 INTERNATIONAL OFFICER CAMPAIGN LITERATURE (2023 RUN-OFF)
      • 2023 IEB ELECTION COUNTS
    • TALK TO US!
    • EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
    • HEALTH & SAFETY
    • TECHNICAL OFFICE & PROFESSIONAL (TOP)
    • LOCAL UNION LOG IN
    • SOLIDARITY
    • SOLIDARY MAGAZINE OPT-IN
    • UAW CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM
  • Take Action
  • BIG 3
    • GM
    • FORD
    • STELLANTIS
  • Press
  • Organize
    • AUTOWORKERS: STAND UP!
    • NO UNION = NO RIGHTS
    • CONTACT UAW ORGANIZING
    • A WORKER HAS A RIGHT
  • News
    • MEDIA COVERAGE
  • UAW Made
    • PRODUCTS & SERVICES
  • Monitor
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Featured, News

Mercedes-Benz Workers in Alabama File for Union Election as Southern Autoworkers Stand Up to Join the UAW

Mercedes Alabama Workers

VANCE, Ala. – A supermajority of Mercedes-Benz workers have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for a vote to join the UAW. The over 5,000 workers at the Mercedes plant outside Tuscaloosa, Ala., are the second group of Southern autoworkers to call for a union election in less than three weeks. Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tenn., filed for their election in mid-March and will have their vote to join the UAW April 17–19.  

A new video announcing the election filing at Mercedes features the Alabama autoworkers at a recent rally with UAW President Shawn Fain. In the video, Mercedes workers speak out on why they’re voting yes to join the UAW. (The media is invited to use footage from the video.) 

In a statement today, Jeremy Kimbrell, a measurement machine operator at Mercedes, said, “We are standing up for every worker in Alabama. At Mercedes, at Hyundai and at hundreds of other companies, Alabama workers have made billions of dollars for executives and shareholders, but we haven’t gotten our fair share. We’re going to turn things around with this vote. We’re going to end the Alabama discount.” 

“We are voting for safer jobs at Mercedes,” said Moesha Chandler, an assembly team member at Mercedes. “I’m still young, but I’m already having serious problems with my shoulders and hands. When you’re still in your twenties and your body is breaking down, that’s not right. By winning our union, we’ll have the power to make the work safer and more sustainable.” 

Mercedes management is running an aggressive anti-union campaign, but that has not blunted the workers’ momentum. By late February, less than two months after Mercedes workers went public with their drive to join the UAW, a majority of them had signed union cards. The Mercedes workers hope to be voting in their union election by early May. The NLRB is expected to quickly set the date for the election.  

The UAW has filed federal labor charges against Mercedes for illegal union busting, as well as charges in a German court for labor violations that could net billions in penalties for the German automaker. 

“We’re going to make Mercedes better with this vote,” said Jacob Ryan, a KVP team member at Mercedes. “Right now, the company keeps losing good people because they force them to work Saturdays at the last second, to take shifts that mess with their family lives. And the only choice people have is to take it or quit. With the union, we’ll have a voice for fair schedules that keep workers at Mercedes.” 

The Mercedes workers are part of the national movement of non-union autoworkers organizing to join the UAW in the wake of the historic Stand Up Strike victory at the Big Three auto companies. Over 10,000 non-union autoworkers have signed union cards in recent months, with public campaigns launched at Mercedes, Volkswagen, Hyundai in Montgomery, Ala., and Toyota in Troy, Mo. Workers at over two dozen other facilities are also actively organizing. For more information, visit uaw.org/join. 

April 5, 2024
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Mercedes-Best-Banner-2-DSC06523-bot-3.jpg 1066 1618 Justin Mayhugh https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.png Justin Mayhugh2024-04-05 10:04:092024-04-05 10:04:09Mercedes-Benz Workers in Alabama File for Union Election as Southern Autoworkers Stand Up to Join the UAW
You might also like
Photo of UAW Daimler members holding "Stand Up Daimler" UAW signs.UAW Reaches Historic Tentative Agreement with Daimler Truck
Photo of two Toyota workers.“We Keep Toyota Running”: Workers at Critical Toyota Plant Launch Campaign to Join the UAW
UAW Wheel logoStatement from UAW President Shawn Fain on Mercedes Alabama Vote
Photo of Mercedes-Benz workers in Vance, Alabama with UAW President Shawn Fain and Region 8 Director Tim Smith.The Path to Victory for Southern Autoworkers
UAW President Shawn Fain Addresses Non-Union Autoworkers on Livestream, Urges Them to Stand UpUAW President Shawn Fain Addresses Non-Union Autoworkers, Urges Them to Stand Up
Photo of UAW members and attendees at a Kamala Harris and Tim Walz rally in Detroit.New UAW Brings “Stand Up” Energy to Worksites and Targeted Battleground Communities in Mass Political Mobilization Campaign

STAY UPDATED

MEMBERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS: GET UAW ACTION UPDATES ON YOUR PHONE. TEXT “JOIN” TO 99795. SIGN UP FOR UAWIRE AND GET UAW ACTION UPDATES VIA EMAIL: Sign Up

Recent Posts

  • UAW Endorses Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. for Mayor of Detroit May 16, 2025
  • La Jornada: To Mexican Autoworkers May 14, 2025
  • Statement from UAW VP Chuck Browning on Hazardous Conditions at BlueOval SK May 9, 2025

Solidarity Magazine

Solidarity Magazine New Member Issue 2024
UAW Logo

UAW SOLIDARITY HOUSE

8000 East Jefferson Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48214

(313) 926-5000

Union Plus Logo

Connect

  • Press Inquiries
  • Get UAW Action Alerts – Text “JOIN” to “99795”
  • Get Email Updates

Organize

  • Non-Union Autoworkers Stand Up!
  • Want to Organize with the UAW?

Latest News

UAW Endorses Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. for Mayor of Detroit

https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Kinloch3-e1747421018597.jpg 940 2048 Justin Mayhugh https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.png Justin Mayhugh2025-05-16 14:44:312025-05-16 14:45:28UAW Endorses Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. for Mayor of Detroit

La Jornada: To Mexican Autoworkers

https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/UAW-Wheel-Logo-Yellow-on-Blue-850x478-1.png 478 850 Chris Skelly https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.png Chris Skelly2025-05-14 14:22:362025-05-14 14:52:35La Jornada: To Mexican Autoworkers

Statement from UAW VP Chuck Browning on Hazardous Conditions at BlueOval SK

https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UAW-Wheel-generic-feature.jpg 576 1024 Justin Mayhugh https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.png Justin Mayhugh2025-05-09 12:18:232025-05-09 12:18:23Statement from UAW VP Chuck Browning on Hazardous Conditions at BlueOval SK
People's Voice Winner Award
Webby Award Logo

© 2023 UAW - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Privacy Policy  |  iSynergy Website Design
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Youtube
  • Vimeo
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
U.S. Department of Energy Announces Final Rule for Distribution Transformers,...Photo of UAW Local 3303 members.Photo of UAW President Shawn Fain wearing a CEASE shirtUAW, C.E.A.S.E. Claim Casino Smoking Exemption Unconstitutional in New Laws...
Scroll to top
Get Member Info

Get Member Updates

This secure form is for collecting your information for union communication purposes only.

  • Used for member verification purposes only. Numbers only. Ex: 1234
  • Numbers only. Ex: 2330