The United Auto Workers is ramping up its efforts to gain representation of workers at the Mercedes plant in Alabama.
The union has so far been thwarted in its attempts to organize any foreign automaker in the South, but has been gaining support from powerful labor representatives who serve on the supervisory boards of German automakers like Mercedes parent Daimler and Volkswagen.
Michael Brecht heads Daimler's works councils and serves as deputy chairman of the board. He is scheduled to appear at a news conference Friday in Tuscaloosa with UAW President Dennis Williams to speak about their joint efforts to get the company to recognize the union there.
The UAW is also working to represent workers at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.