Mersen Workers in Columbia, Tennessee, Overwhelmingly Vote to Join IUE-CWA Union, Marking a Major Step Toward Worker Power in Advanced Materials Industry

Columbia, Tenn. — In a decisive vote, workers at Mersen’s Columbia, Tenn., plant—part of the French multinational conglomerate specializing in electrical power and advanced materials—have overwhelmingly chosen to join the Industrial Division of the Communications Workers of America (IUE-CWA). The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election concluded with a 39-13 vote in favor of unionization late on Monday evening, while four additional ballots remain contested. This win represents a critical moment for the 60 full-time employees, who aim to address low wages, safety concerns, and a lack of job progression at the facility.

"We are proud of what we've accomplished by standing together to form a union," said Tracy Jones, a worker involved in the organizing process. "We look forward to working with Mersen to create a safer and more structured workplace and to secure fair wages for everyone."

Workers at the Columbia facility raised concerns about the lack of a clear pay structure, highlighting the need for more equitable compensation that reflects the varying levels of skill and responsibility across different roles. Additionally, there are no formal pathways for temporary workers, which the company heavily relies on, to become full-time employees, a situation that has led to frustration among the workforce. Safety issues have also been a major driver of the union effort, with employees reporting frequent incidents and injuries due to the demanding nature of the work, which often involves exposure to high temperatures and workers working far apart in isolation of each other.

Mersen has experienced significant growth, particularly in the U.S. market. In 2023, the company reported record global sales of €1.21 billion (approximately $1.27 billion USD), with North America contributing €463 million (roughly $486 million USD), driven by strong performance in electric vehicles, renewable energy, and semiconductors. Much of this growth has been supported by U.S. government initiatives like the CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act, which have boosted demand for the advanced materials Mersen supplies.

The success of the Columbia workers follows a growing trend of unionization in the advanced materials manufacturing sector. IUE-CWA has recently organized workers at several other facilities, including MPP in Campbellsburg, Ind., and another Mersen facility in St. Mary’s, Pa., and has seen increased interest from workers across the country in the advanced materials sector.

“Mersen’s strong financial performance and expansion in high-growth sectors like semiconductors and renewable energy make this moment particularly significant,” said Orvin Caraballo, an IUE-CWA organizer who helped the Mersen workers organize. “As more workers in these industries organize, we are building greater density, which will translate into more worker power and better conditions across the sector.”

Mersen’s Columbia workers are eager to negotiate a fair contract that addresses these concerns, and they look forward to collaborating with the company to build a safer and more equitable workplace.

###

About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion