UAW defiant in Mississippi loss as union opponents celebrate
CANTON, Miss. (AP) – Supporters of the United Auto Workers say they’re not giving up their fight to unionize a Nissan auto assembly plant in Mississippi after a stinging defeat.
But UAW opponents say Friday’s loss proves workers don’t want the union.
The National Labor Relations Board said early Saturday that 62 percent of 3,551 workers at Nissan Motor Co.’s Canton plant voted against the UAW, while only 38 percent supported union representation.
The union filed charges moments before the polls closed Friday night making new allegations that Nissan had broken federal labor law and intimidated workers into voting “no.” If the labor board agrees, it could order a new election at the plant.
Nissan spokeswoman Parul Bajaj says the charges are baseless. She says the company will focus on bringing together its workforce.
Nissan employee Betty Jones expresses her disappointment at pro-union supporters losing their bid to form a union at the Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Miss., Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
United Auto Workers members, some Nissan employees and supporters express their disappointment at losing their bid to form a union at the Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Miss., Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
United Auto Workers members, some Nissan employees and supporters console one another as they express their disappointment at losing their bid to form a union at the Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Miss., Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
United Auto Workers members, some Nissan employees and supporters express their disappointment at losing their bid to form a union at the Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Miss., Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
United Auto Workers members, some Nissan employees and supporters express their disappointment at losing their bid to form a union at the Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Miss., Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Nissan employee Betty Jones, left, consoles Morris Mock, right, while expressing her disappointment at losing their bid to form a union at the Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Miss., Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Nissan employee Morris Mock, is consoled as he and other pro-union Nissan employees express their disappointment at losing their bid to form a union at the Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Miss., Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Nissan employee Morris Mock, left, consoles colleague Antonio Hoover as he expresses his disappointment at losing their bid to form a union at the Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Miss., Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
A UAW supporter sings as she tries to beat the hot sun outside an employee vehicle entrance at the Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Miss., Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. Union members set up informational lines outside employee entrances at the plant and greeted all shifts of workers arriving and leaving, reminding workers to vote for the union. The vote for union representation of line workers concludes Friday evening. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
A UAW supporter uses a bull horn to remind eligible workers to vote for the union while standing outside an employee vehicle entrance at the Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Miss., Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. Union members set up informational lines outside employee entrances at the plant and greeted all shifts of workers arriving and leaving, reminding workers to vote for the union. The vote for union representation of line workers concludes Friday evening. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
