Alabama Senate bill would punish companies that voluntarily recognize unions

The Mercedes emblem seen on the GLE 350 model at the New York International Auto Show at the Javits Center on April 1, 2015 in New York City. The GLE is one of several car models manufactured at Mercedes' plant in Vance, outside Tuscaloosa. (Kevin Hagen/Getty Images)

A bill filed in the Alabama Senate last week would prevent companies that voluntarily recognize an employee union or hold a non-secret ballot process to receive state economic incentives.

SB 231, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, says that employers who voluntarily grant a union; “voluntarily disclose an employee’s personal contact information to a labor organization, or third party acting on behalf of a labor organization, without the employee’s prior written consent, unless otherwise required by state or federal law;” or require subcontractors to participate in either activity will not be eligible for economic development incentives. Employers who did so would also have to pay back incentives already received.

Orr said Tuesday the bill was inspired by unionization efforts at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, outside of Tuscaloosa.

“We saw the situation in Tuscaloosa and I think it’s good policy to have the private vote matter to make sure that the employees whether they’re for or against a union that their ballot is cast in a private manner,” he said. “They can keep their votes to themselves and not be coerced or bullied one way or the other, for pro or con.”

Workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant are organizing with the United Auto Workers, citing stalled pay and benefits at the factory. The UAW said last month that more than half of the employees at the plant had signed union authorization cards. The UAW plans to call for a vote if 70% of the workforce signs cards. Hyundai workers in Montgomery have also launched a unionization effort. 

Company and state officials, including Gov. Kay Ivey, have been critical of the union efforts. On Tuesday, Alabama Political Reporter reported that Mercedes-Benz workers had filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the company of union-busting tactics.

Bren Riley, president of the AFL-CIO of Alabama, said Monday that they had seen similar legislation in other red states. The Georgia Legislature passed a similar bill earlier this month. A similar bill passed in Tennessee last year.

“Why pick on the few union people we have?” he said. “Why not worry about making Hyundai suppliers not take advantage of children and that kind of stuff? Why not expand Medicaid to help poor folks have some health insurance? Why not help people that can’t get pregnant go through in vitro fertilization? You know, they got the priorities wrong here in the state of Alabama, but that’s what Donald Trump wants, so we make America great here in the red state of Alabama.” 

Riley said that the law would likely not have much impact on the state. In 40 years, he said, he only knew of two Alabama companies voluntarily recognizing unions. 

Orr said that his concern was more on the non-secret ballot part of the bill, saying that employees should be able to vote either way in secret.

“They want to get public about it, say, ‘Hey, I voted up or I voted down,’ then that’s certainly their business,” he said.

The Legislature returns next week.

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