April 18 Reuters Workers at a Mercedes Benz factory in Vance, Alabama will vote between May 13 and May 17 on whether to join the United Auto Workers union, the National Labor Relations Board NLRB said on Thursday.

WHY IT39;S IMPORTANT

Winning a vote to organize workers at Mercedes39; Tuscaloosa plant will be a big victory for the UAW as it makes renewed attempts to bring factory employees of foreignowned automakers in the U.S. into its fold.

The elections follow months of organizing efforts at several nonunion automakers owned by foreign companies such as Hyundai Motor and Toyota Motor.

CONTEXT

Earlier this month, workers at the Mercedes plant filed an election petition with the National Labor Relations Board NLRB to hold an election to join the UAW.

The UAW39;s record contracts with the Detroit Three Automakers General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler parent Stellantis  have increased calls to organize nonunion automakers.

This week, workers at Volkswagen39;s Chattanooga, Tennessee plant will be voting on their decision to join the union. The UAW organizers have twice lost a vote at that plant, narrowly missing a majority in 2014 and 2019.

BY THE NUMBERS

The UAW said earlier this month that 5,200 eligible Mercedes workers at the plant and a nearby plant in Woodstock, Alabama signed cards to join the union.

The NLRB will conduct the ballot count beginning around 1045 am ET on May 17, with results expected on the same day.

Reporting by Shivansh Tiwary and Nathan…