of United Auto Workers Union Workers at a Mercedes-Benz factory in Alabama announced plans on Tuesday to organize.

According to the UAW, 30% of the plant's workers have already signed UAW member union recognition cards.

30% is an important trigger for trade unions, as it allows them to further expand their efforts. The UAW hopes that if more than 50% sign union recognition cards, that will trigger federal regulators at the National Labor Relations Board to step in and form the UAW.

“Mercedes' profits have increased 200% in recent years. The company spent $1.9 billion on stock buybacks from March to November 2023 instead of distributing record profits to employees. It's time for Mercedes workers to stand up and do more. Mercedes workers have just reached their first major unionization milestone. More than 30% of us have signed our union cards. ” the UAW wrote on its website.

“Mercedes has made a total of $156 billion in profits over the past 10 years. Over the past three years, the average price of a Mercedes car in the United States has increased by 31%, but our salaries have lagged far behind. Now , we are ready to fight for better jobs, better lives and a better future.”

RELATED: Gov. Kay Ivey: Unions want to target one of Alabama's crown jewel industries: auto manufacturing

The news was greeted with horror by economic developers across the state.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey quickly responded to this perceived threat to the state's overall prosperity with an editorial urging workers to reject the UAW.

Mr. Ivey noted how important the auto industry has become to Alabama.

“Alabama is one of the top five auto manufacturing states with five world-class original equipment manufacturers (OEMs): Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and Mazda,” Ivey wrote. “These manufacturers are the primary drivers of our economy, but who is driving their success?” The answer is the approximately 50,000 Alabamians who work hard in the auto manufacturing sector. “Today, all of that investment equates to an annual production capacity of 1.3 million vehicles. Annual export value is more than $9 billion. 15 different passenger cars, SUVs, produces trucks. And Alabama ranks third in automobile exports and fifth in total automobile production.”

Ivey argued for the potential pitfalls of the UAW taking control of the state's auto manufacturing workforce.

“Unfortunately, the Alabama model for economic success is under attack,” Ivey said. “The United Auto Workers (UAW), a national labor union, is ramping up its efforts to target non-union automakers across the country, including those here in Alabama. They are an outside special interest group, and their special interests do not include the state of Alabama or the men and women who have careers in the auto industry in Alabama.”

“Do we want continued opportunity and success the Alabama way? Or do we want out-of-state special interests telling Alabama how to do business?” Ivey said. “For me, the choice is clear. I stand by our company's proven track record of success.” “Alabamians work harder than anyone and we build the best cars in the world. Don’t let me tell you otherwise.”

Employees at the Mercedes Alabama plant produce the GLE, GLE Coupe and GLS model series, as well as the all-electric EQS ​​SUV and EQE vehicle models. Mercedes employs more than 6,000 workers at its Alabama factory.

The UAW announced last month that it had reached a 30% recovery rate for union authorization cards for workers at its Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It took six weeks for the UAW to reach the 30% mark with Mercedes.

The union claims the automaker has made huge profits over the past two years. However, economists warn that the closure period will be temporary.

Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) agreed to the UAW's demands for better wages and benefits after the unions went on strike at all three companies simultaneously.

The union is using these victories to effectively tell workers at Mercedes, Alabama, “Now it's your turn.”

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