Webasto-Detroit workers say company is violating labor law to bust union activity

Webasto Group facility in Fenton Township, Michigan. Photo by Jon King.

Workers at the Webasto-Detroit auto parts plant are raising legal action against their employer for reported federal labor law violations.

On Wednesday, workers filed charges with the U.S. Department of Labor that accuse leadership at Webasto, a German-based auto parts maker, of implementing rules and procedures intended on intimidating workers.

According to the lawsuit, as Detroit Webasto workers firm up a union , Webasto has promised workers who don’t join the union benefits and better working conditions and threatening employees with retaliation if they join a union.

Further, the lawsuit says new rules have been taken up at the plant to retaliate against employees who appear to be involved in union activities including restrictions on using the bathroom, segregating employees to discourage union activity and surveilling employees’ cars for union paraphernalia.

“We know our rights. We are ready to stand up for what’s fair,” Shawnteyia Williams, a worker at Webasto-Detroit said in a news release from the United Auto Workers Union, or UAW. “We know that every worker needs to be treated with dignity and respect. These charges are just the beginning of how we plan to unite to hold Webasto accountable. By joining together as a union, we can make sure that there is fairness and equality in our plant.”

The plant, which makes parts for the Ford Bronco, has a majority of the more than 500 workers prepared to unionize, the UAW says . Workers have filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to order a union election after Webasto has failed to voluntarily recognize the union.

Efforts to unionize the Detroit Webasto plant come at the heels of the unionization of Webasto’s Plymouth plant, Webasto Pilot Road, in May. The union’s first contract included raises of up to 51% over three years, according to the UAW.

And leading up to the formation of Webasto Pilot Road’s union, Webasto hired anti-union consulting firm LRI Consulting Services, Inc to “educate employees regarding exercising their rights to organize and collectively bargain” according to documents the company filed with labor. Webasto spent over $300,000 to bring LRI in an effort Webasto employees call union busting .

Webasto did not respond to comment in time for publication.