Published
August 26, 2024
UAW President Shawn Fain has focused on organizing new factories, particularly in states that traditionally haven’t been hotbeds of union activity, as the strategy to rebuild the UAW’s flagging ranks. In April of 2024, this bet seemed to be paying off, as the union won an election at a Volkswagen facility in Chattanooga, TN.
However, things haven’t worked out so well since then. First, the UAW lost an election at the Mercedes facility in Vance, Alabama. The union seemed extremely confident going into the vote, but when the ballots were counted came up short. With a major plant having voted no, the UAW’s next took on a smaller facility known as Missouri Smelting Technology (MOST) in Troy, Missouri, which makes some of the raw metal used in auto manufacturing.
At the MOST plant, the bargaining unit sought was roughly 50 workers, not the thousands at Mercedes. Typically, when unions organize smaller units, their odds of victory go up. And yet, once again, when the ballots were counted the union came up short, losing 35-18.
Where the UAW tries next is unclear. Some retooled messaging might be in order though, as the union has seemed more interested in raucous protests about the Middle East than in manufacturing. Turns out auto workers may have different priorities.
About the authors
Glenn Spencer
Spencer oversees the Chamber’s work on immigration, retirement security, traditional labor relations, human trafficking, wage hour and worker safety issues, EEOC matters, and state labor and employment law.
