06/01/2026
‘I'm writing to urge you to sign and share this letter to Mercedes-Benz. Union busting is disgusting! Mercedes-Benz workers who build and repair the company's vehicles have faced a relentless campaign of illegal union busting from Mercedes management in the US. Join our friends, family, and neighbors who work at Mercedes in calling on the company to remain neutral in union organizing drives and follow the law.
Over the past few decades, Alabama has invested more than $1.6 billion in public incentives in the auto industry.
Auto workers in Alabama make less than the national average, and significantly less than workers in union dense Michigan. Notably, Alabama auto workers even make less now in many cases than they did 20-30 years ago in the state once adjusting for inflation.
The auto industry has been described by our governor and others as the "crown jewel" of Alabama's economy. The business and political class have worked hard to try to crush organizing among the 50k non-union auto workers in the state, portraying the UAW as an outside interest even though Alabama has a long, proud tradition of unionism (at one time, 1 in 4 Alabama workers were union members, more than any state today!).
Because Alabama's economy is intentionally underdeveloped, these are often some of the better jobs available to many of our neighbors, despite the inferior wages and benefits, brutal schedules, authoritarian management, and safety risks. The companies flaunt laws and rights to intimidate and lie to workers to keep them divided and fearful.
These companies come down here to enjoy this "Alabama discount" but we know that workers here deserve no less than workers anywhere.
If you work in the auto industry, I encourage you to connect with the UAW. If you know someone who works in the industry, talk to them about the power and value of unions and connect them with UAW. https://uaw.org/join/
If we want a better state for all of us, we must grow worker power and revitalize the labor movement. We must organize the non-union auto industry in the South if we want to shake up this status quo that's failing our people.’
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-mercedes-benz-respecting-workers-should-come-standard
The labor union representing workers in auto, aircraft and agricultural implement manufacturing and other industries in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.
