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Earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt visited Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC (HMMA), in Montgomery.
During her visit, Britt met with HMMA’s leadership team and was presented with an overview of current vehicle production activities, team member benefits, and the company’s charitable investments and strategies.
Britt also received a tour of the facility, seeing its employees in action as they worked on assembling models including the Hyundai Santa Fe, Tucson, and Santa Cruz, and the Genesis GV70 and Electrified GV70 SUV.
“Not only is Alabama’s auto manufacturing industry a critical economic driver in our state, but we are now the top auto-exporter across America,” said Senator Britt. “I’m proud to see our Made in Alabama vehicles lead the nation, and HMMA is a driving force behind this constantly expanding industry. I will continue to support policies and strategic investments at the federal level that empower this sector to create good-paying jobs, grow opportunities for hardworking families, and strengthen local communities.”
“We are honored that Senator Britt took time from her busy schedule to learn about HMMA, our culture, and advanced manufacturing processes,” said Chris Susock, HMMA president and chief executive officer. “HMMA considers all of our local, state, and federal officials as partners in the same goal of creating a high quality of life for our region and its citizens.”
HMMA is an independent manufacturing operation of the Hyundai Motor Company and has been Hyundai’s first and only assembly and manufacturing plant in the United States since it opened in 2005. The facility is capable of producing over 390,000 vehicles per year and supports more than 14,000 Alabamian jobs. Additionally, the facility contributes approximately $4.8 billion to the state per year.
Britt’s political career has long been tied to Alabama’s auto industry, as evidenced by the Automobile Dealers Association of Alabama endorsement she received when she ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022. However, attempts to unionize the auto workers who sustain these dealers have received far less of Britt’s attention.
Britt’s HMMA visit and subsequent statements failed to acknowledge the the ongoing efforts of Montgomery Hyundai workers to organize their workplace and join the United Auto Workers. Over 30 percent of HMMA workers have signed union cards and their Volunteer Organizing Committee (VOC) is continuing the push to form a union.
“We’re joining together to win our fair share of Hyundai’s record pretax profits—$13.5 billion in 2023. Profits we made but don’t share in. No matter where we work, it’s time that record profits mean record contracts,” reads the VOC’s mission statement as found on the UAW’s website.
Britt has said little about the organization of auto workers despite the prominence of the UAW’s efforts across Alabama over the past year. However, her Republican colleagues in the state government have been vocal critics of unionization, with Gov. Kay Ivey celebrating the failed UAW vote at Vance’s Mercedes-Benz factory in May.
“We urge the UAW to respect the results of this secret ballot election. I am proud Alabama is home to some of the greatest automakers in the world, and I am grateful to these companies who provide good pay, benefits, and opportunities to many men and women across our state,” Ivey said.
UAW President Shawn Fain claimed that Mercedes-Benz engaged in “egregious illegal behavior” which led to the failed vote.
Despite being less vocal on the matter than other Republicans like Ivey, Britt’s voting record in the Senate has earned her a “0 percent” Legislative Scorecard from the AFL-CIO on votes concerning working people.
However, the UAW appears intent on continuing its efforts to organize HMMA, whether those efforts are acknowledged by Alabama politicians like Britt or not.
