Carrie Hoffman on UAW’s Southern Auto Push – ‘It’s a much more political concept’

Foley & Lardner LLP partner Carrie Hoffman commented on the United Auto Worker’s (UAW) recent loss in a union representation election at two Alabama plants in the Law360 article, “Mercedes Loss Shows Challenge Of UAW’s Southern Auto Bid.”

Hoffman, who is chair of Foley’s Labor & Employment Practice, said the UAW appears to be setting itself up to seek a bargaining order related to the election under the National Labor Relations Board’s Cemex doctrine. She noted, however, that whether the union has evidence to back its claims remains to be determined.

“It definitely sounds like what they’re saying to automakers, and frankly the workers, is we’re not giving up, and we’re going to push forward with whatever we can,” explained Hoffman, who added that the apparent high turnout in the election could in part be attributed to how workers view union representation elections in the South.

“It’s a much more political concept than it is an employment concept in their minds,” Hoffman said.

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