A majority of workers at Mercedes-Benz’s largest plant in the United States, MBUSI in Vance have signed union cards in support of joining the United Auto Workers (UAW).
In a video announcement, Mercedes worker Jeremy Kimbrell, surrounded by his Mercedes coworkers, announces that “a majority of our coworkers at Mercedes here in Alabama have signed our union cards and are ready to win our union and a better life with the UAW.”
Kimbrell details several of the driving forces behind the workers’ grassroots campaign to join the UAW, including workers going many years without meaningful raises, a two-tier wage system, and the abuse of temporary workers.
Each of these issues also figured prominently in the UAW’s Stand Up Strike at the so-called Big Three (General Motors Company, Stellantis and Ford Motor Company), which has spurred an unprecedented amount of organizing activity and interest among America’s non-union autoworkers.
“There comes a time when enough is enough,” said Kimbrell. “Now is that time. We know what the company, what the politicians, and what their multi-millionaire buddies will say. They’ll say now is not the right time. Or that this is not the right way. But here’s the thing. This is our decision. It’s our life. It’s our community. These are our families. It’s up to us.”
The announcement marks the second plant to reach the majority milestone this month, after Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga reached majority support in early February.
Over ten thousand non-union autoworkers across 14 auto companies have signed union cards and begun organizing to join the UAW in the wake of the historic Stand Up Strike victories at the Big Three.