A series of pro-union commercials are appearing on televisions in central Alabama ahead of next week’s historic union vote at Mercedes-Benz in Tuscaloosa County.

More Perfect Union Solidarity, a pro-labor non-profit, is airing the ads in support of the United Auto Workers on television stations in central Alabama, as well as Hulu, Paramount+, YouTube, and other TV services in the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa areas.

More Perfect Union Solidarity was also involved in a pro-union sky banner and activities last weekend in the area.

The three television ads feature local Mercedes auto workers on why they are voting to join a union, Crimson Tide football great Antonio Langham on why he supports unionizing, and UAW President Shawn Fain discussing his faith.

Jeremy Kimbrell, one of the workers who appears in the workers’ commercial, was also mentioned in a presentation at a Mercedes-Benz shareholder meeting in Germany, alleging anti-union activity by the company.

Langham appeared at a rally this past weekend, citing his time in the NFL Player’s Union.

Fain, who has lead the UAW since his election last year, was in Alabama in March rallying with Mercedes workers. In his video, he uses phrases from the Bible to tie his faith to the union fight.

Faiz Shakir, founder and director of More Perfect Union Solidarity, had an interesting challenge in creating the 30-second spots: how to distill down complicated questions of labor history, wages, benefits, and workers’ rights into bite-sized bits that will play in red state, right-to-work Alabama.

He said the group used polling and cultural commonalities, such as faith and football, to bridge the ideological gap. It was also necessary to have individual pro-union workers tell their stories.

“The gateways in are a little different, all based off the assumption that once we start talking about the basic reasons for a union, i.e., better wages, better retirement, better health care, better working conditions, that they’re going to speak to you,” he said. “Understanding that the politics is going to be across the board, it’s going to be different, it’s going to be varied. Giving people a way to access this is everything.”

The group is also hosting a “Party for the Working Class” Saturday at Brock’s Gap Brewing Co. in Hoover at 4 p.m. The event will feature free Saw’s BBQ, live music, kids’ activities, and Mother’s Day flowers for the first 150 people. More information can be found here.