The United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) has issued a statement following the results of the union election at International Motors in Huntsville, Alabama. According to the UAW, the election process was influenced by significant involvement from state political and business groups.
The statement reads: “Once again, the statewide political and business elites have closed ranks to protect their power and privilege, stacking the deck against Alabama workers. The statewide business lobby and their allies in government poured tens of thousands of dollars into commercials, digital ads, and union-busting consultants who charge thousands of dollars per day to coerce workers and sow fear at International Motors Huntsville.”
Organizing efforts began with more than 60% of facility workers signing cards in support of forming a union. The UAW claims that Navistar management did not adhere to a neutrality agreement previously established with other UAW-represented employees. Instead, management is accused of implementing an aggressive anti-union campaign.
“When workers at this facility started organizing their union, over 60% of workers signed cards saying they wanted to form a union with their coworkers. Navistar management then violated the neutrality agreement in its contract with other UAW-represented employees and unleashed its aggressive, illegal union busting campaign,” the statement continues.
The UAW also points to challenges faced by workers during the election process: “The workers put up a brave fight in the face of illegal intimidation tactics and coercion, but ultimately it was not enough to overcome a defunded, understaffed National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and a system that overwhelmingly favors the employer at the expense of workers.”
International Motors operates as a subsidiary of Traton Group, which is based in Germany. The group’s official stance is reportedly one of neutrality toward unionization efforts; however, according to the UAW’s account, company leadership intervened directly ahead of voting.
“International Motors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Traton Group, a German company whose official policy is to remain neutral if workers decide they want to unionize. Instead of following its own policy, the company CEO descended on the plant for the first time in years to campaign against workers unionizing. Then, ten days before the vote, as momentum built for the union, management tried to buy back support by reinstating a health insurance plan they had taken away last year. Now that the election is over, nothing stops them from ripping it away again. That’s exactly why workers need a union: without a contract, there’s no guarantee—only empty promises,” said representatives from UAW.
The organization states that both it and participating employees adhered strictly to neutrality policies during organizing activities while accusing International Motors’ management and certain state-level groups of opposing worker efforts through various means.
“While the workers and the UAW followed the neutrality policy and the letter of the law, International Motors and Alabama’s anti-worker corporate special interest groups stopped at nothing to prevent workers from using their power to improve their lives. The UAW will pursue every available avenue, including multiple Unfair Labor Practice charges and the full use of the grievance procedure, to win justice for these workers.”
