“At MBUSI [Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.], our primary focus is always to provide a safe and supportive work environment for our Team Members, so they can build superior vehicles for the world. We look forward to continuing to work directly with our Team Members to ensure MBUSI is not only their employer of choice, but a place they would recommend to friends and family.”

That is the official statement from the company after employees at the Vance, Alabama, voted not to join the United Auto Workers.

Given that the employees at Volkswagen of America in Chattanooga, Tennessee, voted last month rather resoundingly to join the UAW—73% said “Let’s join!”—it was figured by some people that there would be something of a German company movement toward union organized solidarity.

But at MBUSI 56% were against joining the UAW.

(The numbers: 2,642 voted no and 2,045 voted yes. While that might seem close at first glance, that 12% delta is non-trivial.)

While the UAW has been on something of a tear of late, given the impressive contracts with the Motor City 3 and the win at VW, clearly not all auto workers see the situation as, in the words of the UAW, “Southern Autoworkers vs. Corporate Greed.”