Workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama have applied for a union election, according to the UAW.

Employees at a Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) facility in Vance, Alabama, have submitted a request to U.S. regulators for an election to join the United Auto Workers, the union announced on Friday.
This petition marks the second instance of a factory filing for an election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in recent weeks. According to previous reports by Reuters, Mercedes workers in Alabama were expected to file for an election with the NLRB imminently.
The NLRB has scheduled a hearing for April 15 unless both parties reach an agreement on an election timetable.
The UAW stated that a “supermajority” of the 5,200 eligible workers at the Mercedes plant, as well as a nearby facility in Woodstock, Alabama, have signed cards indicating their desire to join the union. The UAW aims for a vote to take place by early May.
A spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz emphasized the company’s respect for employees’ right to choose unionization and expressed readiness to engage in the election process to ensure workers have access to relevant information for making informed decisions.
These elections follow months of organizing efforts at numerous non-union automakers, including foreign-owned companies like Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) and Toyota Motor (7203.T), as well as electric vehicle manufacturers such as Tesla (TSLA.O) and Rivian (RIVN.O).
After successfully negotiating landmark contracts with the Detroit Three – General Motors (GM.N), Ford (F.N), and Stellantis (STLAM.MI) – UAW President Shawn Fain pledged to achieve a long-standing goal: welcoming a new automaker into the union fold.