Mercedes supplier ZF hit by UAW strike in Alabama

The UAW early Wednesday struck a ZF Group plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala., that builds front and rear axles for Mercedes-Benz vehicles built nearby.

It was not immediately clear what impact the strike is having on vehicle assembly at the automaker’s Vance, Ala., plant, where it builds the GLE, GLS, EQE and EQS, according to the Automotive News Data Center.

Spokespeople for Mercedes did not immediately return a request for comment.

About 190 workers at ZF’s chassis systems plant in Tuscaloosa walked out at 5 a.m. local time. Core issues for workers there include wages and a tiered-wage structure, in addition to health care coverage, which a union source said “might be the lead issue” for UAW Local 2083, which represents the workers.