Blow to UAW as Mercedes workers in Alabama vote against unionization

The United Auto Workers (UAW) faced a setback as workers at two Mercedes-Benz plants in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, voted against unionization. The vote, with 56% opposing, occurred despite the UAW's broader campaign to unionize auto workers across southern states. This region has historically resisted union efforts to maintain lower labor costs. Mercedes countered the union drive by eliminating a two-tier wage system, a move that some workers felt was reactive rather than proactive. Meanwhile, the UAW continues its efforts to expand union representation in the auto industry, with recent successes at other plants.