The German government has officially launched an investigation into Mercedes-Benz Group AG concerning allegations of illegal anti-union activities at its plant in Vance, Alabama. This action by Germany’s Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control follows mounting evidence of the company’s efforts to suppress unionization efforts at the Mercedes Plant Tuscaloosa.
Currently, workers at the Mercedes plant Tuscaloosa are in the midst of a union vote, with a significant majority expressing support for union representation. However, these workers have reportedly faced an aggressive and unlawful anti-union campaign orchestrated by management, alongside external anti-union consultants hired by Mercedes-Benz.
Jeremy Kimbrell, a long-term employee at the plant since 1999, voiced the sentiments of many workers, stating, “Autoworkers in Alabama should have the same rights and be treated with the same respect as autoworkers in Germany. My coworkers and I are grateful to the German government for taking our testimonies and the evidence we have provided seriously and taking the first steps to hold the lawless, reckless Mercedes managers in Alabama accountable for their action.”
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union filed charges against Mercedes-Benz Group AG earlier in April, citing violations of Germany’s newly enacted law on global supply chain practices. The core of the UAW’s complaint is that Mercedes-Benz’s forceful anti-union campaign against its U.S. workforce in Alabama constitutes a clear breach of human rights under the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains. This legal framework could expose Mercedes-Benz to substantial penalties, including considerable financial fines and potential bans on eligibility for government contracts.
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI), the subsidiary operating the Alabama plant in Tuscaloosa, is at the center of these accusations. The UAW’s detailed complaint outlines instances where MBUSI allegedly intimidated, threatened, and even terminated employees in Alabama, actions that violate both U.S. labor laws and International Labor Organization Conventions. The complaint highlights seven specific infringements of the German act, including:
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Unjust Termination of Union Supporter: The case of a worker with Stage 4 cancer being fired stands out. Despite prior authorization to keep his cellphone at work for critical updates regarding his chemotherapy medication, a supervisor, identified as being involved in anti-union intimidation, enforced a purported zero-tolerance cellphone policy, leading to the employee’s dismissal.
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CEO’s Anti-Union Letter: A letter penned by MBUSI CEO Michael Göbel in January is cited as an attempt to stifle union activity and infringe upon workers’ freedom of association. The letter reportedly employed standard anti-union rhetoric designed to instill fear, uncertainty, and division among the workforce.
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Mandatory Anti-Union Meetings: CEO Michael Göbel conducted mandatory plant-wide meetings in February with the explicit aim of dissuading workers from unionizing. During these gatherings, Göbel reportedly stated his disbelief in the UAW’s ability to improve the plant and questioned the transparency of union dues, suggesting workers would be paying into an organization with unaccountable spending.
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Nick Saban Appearance and Union Supporter Harassment: Another mandatory meeting in February featured former University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban. Leading up to and during this event, MBUSI supervisors allegedly interfered with union supporters distributing UAW hats, attempting to suppress visible displays of union support.
Despite the intense anti-union pressure from the company, a significant majority of workers at the Mercedes plant Tuscaloosa have publicly declared their support for the union. These workers express confidence in a union victory when the ballots are counted on Friday, May 17th. Should they succeed, the Mercedes plant Tuscaloosa would become the second Southern automotive facility to join the UAW within a month, marking a significant step in the broader movement of unionization across non-union auto plants nationwide.
