Employees at two Mercedes-Benz plants in Alabama voted against joining the United Auto Workers (UAW) on Friday, in a setback to the labour union’s organising push in the South.

Some 5,000 workers at the facilities near Tuscaloosa rejected the proposal by 2,642 to 2,045 votes which was overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

During the elections, which took place between 13 and 17 May, a total of 4,687 valid votes were counted, representing 92% of eligible Mercedes-Benz employees.