The German government has officially launched an investigation into Mercedes-Benz Group AG concerning allegations of illegal anti-union activities at its Vance, Alabama manufacturing facility. Germany’s Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) confirmed the formal inquiry, marking a significant escalation in the scrutiny faced by the automotive giant amidst ongoing unionization efforts at its US plant.
This investigation coincides with a critical union vote at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. A substantial majority of workers at this plant have voiced their support for unionization, despite what they describe as a relentless and unlawful campaign of intimidation orchestrated by management and external anti-union consultants employed by the company over several months.
Jeremy Kimbrell, a long-term employee at the Alabama plant since 1999, articulated the sentiments of many workers, stating, “Autoworkers in Alabama deserve the same rights and treatment as their counterparts in Germany.” He further expressed gratitude for the German government’s intervention, adding, “My colleagues and I appreciate the German government taking our testimonies and the evidence we presented seriously, and for initiating the first steps to hold the Mercedes management in Alabama accountable for their unlawful and irresponsible actions.”
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union initiated formal charges against Mercedes-Benz Group AG earlier in April, citing violations of Germany’s recently enacted law on global supply chain practices. The core of the UAW’s অভিযোগ is that Mercedes-Benz’s aggressive opposition to unionization among its U.S. workforce in Alabama constitutes a clear infringement of human rights as defined under the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains. This legal framework holds German companies accountable for human rights and environmental standards within their global operations. Consequently, Mercedes-Benz could potentially face substantial penalties, including significant financial fines and restrictions on eligibility for government contracts, should the allegations be substantiated.
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI), the subsidiary operating the Alabama plant and based in Stuttgart, is at the center of these accusations. The UAW’s detailed complaint outlines a pattern of intimidation, threats, and unjust dismissals of Alabama workers by MBUSI management, actions that allegedly contravene both U.S. labor laws and the conventions of the International Labor Organization. The complaint meticulously documents seven specific violations of the German supply chain act, providing concrete examples of the alleged misconduct:
- Unjust Termination of Employee with Serious Illness: A particularly egregious case highlighted is the firing of a worker battling Stage 4 cancer. This employee had received prior authorization to keep his cellphone at work to stay informed about the availability of his critical chemotherapy medication. However, a supervisor, identified as being involved in anti-union intimidation tactics, reportedly invoked a purported “zero-tolerance policy” on cellphones as pretext to terminate his employment.
- CEO’s Anti-Union Letter: In January, MBUSI CEO Michael Göbel issued a letter to all employees that is alleged to have been a calculated attempt to suppress union activity and infringe upon workers’ freedom of association. The letter reportedly employed standard anti-union rhetoric, crafted by specialized consultants, designed to cultivate fear, uncertainty, and division among the workforce.
- Mandatory Anti-Union Meetings Led by CEO: CEO Göbel convened a mandatory plant-wide meeting in February with the express purpose of dissuading employees from unionizing. During this assembly, Göbel reportedly asserted, “I don’t believe the UAW can help us to be better,” and raised concerns about union dues, stating workers “shouldn’t have to pay union dues that generate millions of dollars per year for an organization where you have no transparency where that money is used.”
- Anti-Union Rally with Nick Saban: Another compulsory plant-wide meeting in February featured a guest appearance by former University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban. Prior to and during this event, MBUSI supervisors allegedly interfered with union supporters’ efforts to distribute UAW hats to their colleagues.
Despite the company’s vigorous anti-union efforts, a significant majority of MBUSI employees have publicly declared their support for unionization. Workers express confidence in achieving union representation when the ballots are tallied on Friday, May 17th. If successful, this would mark the second instance of a Southern auto plant voting to join the UAW within a month, and represent a further milestone in the broader wave of union organizing currently underway across numerous non-union automotive plants throughout the United States.
