Union rallies before Alabama Mercedes UAW vote: ‘Wages, working conditions and benefits improve’ – By William Thornton (AL.com) / May 11, 2024
Union members Saturday afternoon turned out at Hoover’s Brock’s Gap Brewing Co. to show support for the United Auto Workers ahead of next week’s election at Mercedes-Benz U.S. International in Vance.
More Perfect Union Solidarity, an organization supporting labor, staged the gathering, where people enjoyed live music, barbecue and the afternoon air as they shouted union slogans.
About 250 people came, and they briefly heard Austin Brooks of Centreville’s first performance. Brooks, 20, has worked for two years at Mercedes’ electric battery plant in Bibb County, and he sang “Folsom Prison Blues” with the band.
“I’ll bet there’s rich folks eating in a fancy dining car,” he sang, the lyrics, for a moment, evoking the great labor folk songs of the previous century. He admitted nervousness before attempting the Johnny Cash classic, but he segued quickly after into a speech telling of his time at Mercedes and his support for the UAW.
