Alabama GE workers withdraw union petition at Auburn aviation plant

Alabama GE workers withdraw union petition at Auburn aviation plant

Workers at an Auburn GE plant have withdrawn their petition to unionize, just prior to a planned vote on organizing.

The petition was filed with the National Labor Relations Board on Oct. 24, according to the NLRB website.

Back in August, workers at the 179-employee GE Aviation plant submitted union cards to the Birmingham office of the NLRB in an organization effort with IUE-CWA.

Those involved in the organizing effort said they had issues with pay and morale. A former GE Aviation employee filed a federal workplace complaint against the Auburn plant, citing wrongful termination based on her participation in a labor organization.

A GE Aerospace spokesperson said the company was notified earlier today of the action.

“We are grateful our employees continue to support the direct relationship they have today with the company, and we will continue our efforts to provide a highly desirable work environment based on teamwork and mutual success,” the spokesperson said.

It’s the second time in five years that workers have withdrawn a union petition at the Auburn facility.

The GE plant builds a fuel nozzle on the LEAP jet engine which powers Airbus, Boeing, and other major aircraft.

In 2019, GE Aviation announced a $50 million project in Auburn to expand its additive manufacturing, or 3-D printing, operation.