Navistar Factory Workers Reject Union Formation
Employees at the Navistar Engine Factory in Huntsville have voted against forming a union with the North Alabama Regional Labor Council and the United Autoworker (UAW).
In an election held by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), 228 workers were eligible to participate. Ultimately, 73 employees backed the union while 142 voted against it.
The factory, situated near Huntsville International Airport, specializes in manufacturing powertrains for diesel trucks and employs around 250 people. Prior to the voting, the North Alabama Regional Labor Council had encouraged a “yes” vote, with Adam Keller from the Alabama Workers’ Power Campaign emphasizing the importance of union culture in Alabama, comparing it to staple traditions like football and sweet tea.
Navistar management opposed the unionization efforts, suggesting that joining the union was unnecessary in Huntsville and criticized the Labor Council as an outside entity. They urged workers to disregard what they referred to as “anti-union propaganda” from the Alabama Business Council.
Following the vote, the UAW claimed that political and business interests had united to undermine Alabama workers and protect their elite position. They accused these groups of spending significant money on advertising and consulting to sway the election’s result.
The UAW further alleged that Navistar management breached neutral contracts with other employees represented by UAW, employing illegal tactics to intimidate workers. They also criticized International Motors, Navistar’s parent company, for failing to adhere to neutral policies during a visit aimed at preventing union integration.
Remarkably, just ten days before the vote, management reinstated a previously eliminated health insurance plan.
The UAW stated that while they complied with legal and neutral policies, the opposition resorted to any means necessary to curtail workers’ power to improve their situation. They plan to address allegations of unfair labor practices and will continue using the appropriate complaint processes to pursue the matter.
