Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley had some wise words for his fellow citizens regarding the United Auto Workers’ attempts to unionize a Tuscaloosa County-based Mercedes-Benz plant: it could lead to a disaster equal to Detroit’s bankruptcy.
At this week’s Economic Development Association of Alabama summer conference, the Republican governor made it clear that he opposes the unionization of Mercedes’ workers. Bentley said the plant has spurred industry growth in the state, but believes unionization would collapse it.
“It is so important that we always brag on Mercedes,” Bentley told Alabama’s Al.com. “It is the best plant in the world. Why would you want to ruin it?”
Bentley said unionizing the plant could mean bad news for the city of Vance, where the plant is located.
“We don’t want to be the next Detroit,” he warned.
UAW — headquartered in the Michigan city — represents hundreds of thousands of workers, including those with General Motors, one of the major car companies located in Detroit. GM received a multi-billion dollar bailout from the federal government after it filed for bankruptcy in 2009.
Despite UAW’s campaign to unionize workers at Mercedes, the governor said he ultimately doesn’t expect the employees to give in.
“We are a right-to-work state,” he said. “If you treat your employees right and make them feel like they’re a part of the team and make them proud of the products they produce, you should have no reason to unionize.”
With Alabama’s economic development, Bentley implied the Obama administration should not try to take credit for the state’s successes.
During his recent economic speech at Illinois’ Knox College — one of several aimed to show the President’s “pivot” back to the economy and middle class — President Barack Obama referred to the newly built Airbus Americas Inc. commercial jet assembly line that created 400 jobs in Mobile.
The president’s comments drew criticism from Alabama Sens. Richard Shelby (R) and Jeff Sessions (R), who said local officials, not the Obama administration, persuaded the European manufacturer to construct the $600 million facility.
Bentley said he doesn’t believe President Obama was trying to take credit for the project, Al.com reported. But the governor did emphasize that presidents do not create new jobs and therefore shouldn’t try to take credit for them.
