Automotive News: U.S. civil rights and labor groups used Daimler AG's shareholder meeting today in Berlin to urge company executives to help overturn a controversial immigration law in Alabama, where the company operates an assembly plant.
Renata Soto of the National Council of La Raza, Fred Redmond, of the AFL-CIO's executive council and Patty Kupfer, managing director for America's Voice Education Fund, said after the meeting that Daimler acknowledged it was involved in discussions with the Business Council of Alabama and representatives in the U.S. Congress to look for a solution to problems caused by the law.
The Alabama law took effect in September and requires police to check the immigration status of anyone they detain and suspect of being in the country illegally. Other parts of the law make it a felony for illegal immigrants to apply for or renew drivers' licenses, identification cards or license plates.
The Obama administration, contending Alabama is interfering with the federal government's exclusive authority over immigration policy, is challenging the law in court.
A Mercedes-Benz manager from Germany was affected by the law when he was detained in November in Tuscaloosa, Ala., after being pulled over by police and failing to provide required documents under the law.
Daimler spokesman Markus Mainka said Daimler CFO Bodo Uebber indicated the company was following discussions about the law, listening to opinions and discussing the issues with members of the U.S. House of Representatives. But he said Uebber believes the debate should be at the regional and local level and is the responsibility of the Alabama court system.
"It's not a federal law, so the responsibility is with the legislature of Alabama," Mainka said. "But the company is taking its responsibility as an employer in Alabama and is a member of the Business Council of Alabama."
A group of 15 civil rights organizations and labor unions, including the UAW and the NAACP, is seeking to repeal the law. They are pressing Hyundai, Honda Motor Co. and Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler -- among the state's largest private employers -- for help.
The groups requested meetings with the automakers' executives in January, but no formal meetings have been scheduled.
The effort comes after the Service Employees International Union filed a complaint on Monday with the International Labor Organization of the United Nations, alleging the U.S. government's inability to create a national immigration policy has allowed states to pass laws that violate international norms.
"Up until this point there has only been silence on this matter," said Soto. "This is the first time that we hear that they are active in this conversation. That makes us very hopeful."
Soto said Daimler's response shows the company is concerned about the law.
For the coalition of labor and civil rights groups, the trip to Berlin is the second in a series of shareholder meetings targeted. The group attended the Hyundai shareholder meeting last month in Seoul.
Plans to attend Honda's meeting in June depends on the state of the immigration bill after Alabama's legislative session ends in mid-May, but the coalition said it is prepared to keep fighting the law and attending the meeting is definitely an option.
Renata Soto of the National Council of La Raza, Fred Redmond, of the AFL-CIO's executive council and Patty Kupfer, managing director for America's Voice Education Fund, said after the meeting that Daimler acknowledged it was involved in discussions with the Business Council of Alabama and representatives in the U.S. Congress to look for a solution to problems caused by the law.
The Alabama law took effect in September and requires police to check the immigration status of anyone they detain and suspect of being in the country illegally. Other parts of the law make it a felony for illegal immigrants to apply for or renew drivers' licenses, identification cards or license plates.
The Obama administration, contending Alabama is interfering with the federal government's exclusive authority over immigration policy, is challenging the law in court.
A Mercedes-Benz manager from Germany was affected by the law when he was detained in November in Tuscaloosa, Ala., after being pulled over by police and failing to provide required documents under the law.
Daimler spokesman Markus Mainka said Daimler CFO Bodo Uebber indicated the company was following discussions about the law, listening to opinions and discussing the issues with members of the U.S. House of Representatives. But he said Uebber believes the debate should be at the regional and local level and is the responsibility of the Alabama court system.
"It's not a federal law, so the responsibility is with the legislature of Alabama," Mainka said. "But the company is taking its responsibility as an employer in Alabama and is a member of the Business Council of Alabama."
A group of 15 civil rights organizations and labor unions, including the UAW and the NAACP, is seeking to repeal the law. They are pressing Hyundai, Honda Motor Co. and Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler -- among the state's largest private employers -- for help.
The groups requested meetings with the automakers' executives in January, but no formal meetings have been scheduled.
The effort comes after the Service Employees International Union filed a complaint on Monday with the International Labor Organization of the United Nations, alleging the U.S. government's inability to create a national immigration policy has allowed states to pass laws that violate international norms.
"Up until this point there has only been silence on this matter," said Soto. "This is the first time that we hear that they are active in this conversation. That makes us very hopeful."
Soto said Daimler's response shows the company is concerned about the law.
For the coalition of labor and civil rights groups, the trip to Berlin is the second in a series of shareholder meetings targeted. The group attended the Hyundai shareholder meeting last month in Seoul.
Plans to attend Honda's meeting in June depends on the state of the immigration bill after Alabama's legislative session ends in mid-May, but the coalition said it is prepared to keep fighting the law and attending the meeting is definitely an option.
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