In a show of solidarity, progressive advocacy organizations, More Perfect Union and the Poor People's Campaign, hosted a pro-union rally in Tuscaloosa on Sunday. This follows a similar rally held on Saturday in Birmingham. The event aimed to garner support for the United Auto Workers (UAW) as they prepare for a crucial union election at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa next week.

The rally took place at the Christian Community Church of Tuscaloosa and drew a crowd of several dozen attendees, including pro-UAW Mercedes employees and their families. The organizers provided free barbecue, buttons, stickers, and t-shirts to show support for the cause.

A special guest at the rally was former University of Alabama cornerback, Antonio Langham. Langham, who spoke passionately about his experience as a professional football player in the NFL Players Association, emphasized the importance of union representation in securing benefits for workers. He emphasized that the union's strength lies in taking care of its members in the long run.

Langham drew connections between the NFL Players Association and the UAW, stating that while the dynamics may be different, the goal remains the same – "taking care of each other on down the road." He credited the NFL Players Association for implementing policies that have ensured the well-being of players, including crucial healthcare benefits.

Another speaker, Austin Brooks, a Mercedes employee of two years, spoke about safety concerns within the company. He claimed that employees who raise safety issues with Mercedes management often face termination, while those who remain silent are sometimes rewarded with promotions.

While the UAW faces opposition from some Alabama politicians, including Gov. Kay Ivey, many attendees at the rally expressed support for the unionization effort. Jacob Ryan, a Mercedes employee, mentioned that people on the street recognized him from UAW's advertisements and voiced their backing for the workers' cause.

Mercedes-Benz has also faced criticism for its response to the unionization effort. Jeremy Kimbrell, a Mercedes measuring machine operator, condemned the company's tactics as "extremely vicious, maybe illegal, bordering on illegal." The UAW has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Mercedes with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that the company illegally terminated multiple employees for their association with the union.

Attendees at the rally also raised concerns about captive audience meetings and anti-union text messages from the company, noting their displeasure with these tactics.

Pamela Foster, a professor of community medicine at the University of Alabama, represented the Poor People's Campaign at the event. Foster compared the struggle of the UAW to represent Southern autoworkers to historic political struggles in the American South. She highlighted the goal of achieving true democracy and paving the way for change in the rest of the nation if progress can be made in the South.

As the union election approaches, both Mercedes and the UAW are intensifying their efforts to win over employees. The outcome of the election will have far-reaching implications for the workers' rights and representation at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa.