MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. – President Obama visited a UAW-represented Freightliner Truck Manufacturing Plant in North Carolina today to speak about how and why the economic recovery is working here.

The president traveled to the Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) facility in Mount Holly, which employs about 1,500 UAW Local 5285 members.

Freightliner has been a bright spot in the Tar Heel State’s hard-hit economic landscape, which ranked fourth among states with the highest unemployment at the end of 2011.

“The economic recovery is not only working in the domestic auto industry,” said UAW President Bob King on the resurgence of U.S. automakers. “It’s in other areas as well, such as heavy truck assembly and parts.”

King praised Obama’s decision to visit Mount Holly rather than one of North Carolina’s larger cities. “President Obama cares about middle America,” King said. “Mount Holly isn’t in the spotlight like Charlotte, but the president has concerns about the economy and jobs there.”

About eight months ago, DTNA – Freightliner’s parent company – announced it would add nearly 700 jobs combined to the Mount Holly plant and Gastonia parts plant, which employs about 780 UAW Local 5286 members.

In January, the company’s Cleveland, N.C., manufacturing plant announced the addition of 1,100 jobs – meaning all laid-off UAW Local 3520 members will be offered their jobs back in addition new workers being hired.

The struggle of the UAW seeking employer neutrality in union elections comes down to this: Successful organizing leads to successful partnerships.

In a series of hard-fought organizing drives that began in June 1989, Freightliner workers at the Mount Holly plant voted for UAW representation in April 1990. They negotiated their first contract in December 1991, and three subsequent agreements in 1994, 1997 and 2000. These contracts were not only advantageous for members, but also left the company with a competitive advantage.

A few years later at three other Freightliner plants in North Carolina – Gastonia, Cleveland and the company’s Thomas Built Buses facility in High Point – the UAW and DTNA reached an enforceable neutrality agreement. This meant Freightliner agreed to stay out of the workers’ decision in organizing with the UAW and recognize the union. In short order, the UAW reached a majority at all three plants and was recognized by the company.

“It isn’t rocket science. Workers know they come out ahead when they have a say in their wages, benefits, health care, health and safety, and other workplace issues. Being able to decide in an atmosphere that is calm and free of threats is critical – and that’s what neutrality agreements are all about,” said Gary Casteel, director of UAW Region 8, where all UAW-represented Freightliner facilities are located.

In 2009, when Freightliner set up duplicate production of the M2 truck in Mexico, workers at Mount Holly convinced customers to insist their trucks be built in North Carolina.  In October 2011, after the union discovered that bids for North Carolina buses were written in a way that excluded Thomas Built Buses vehicles, UAW members at DTNA again fought for work for their plants.

“Because of the UAW’s political activism, elected state officials helped ensure the bus maker was allowed to bid. And when Thomas Built Buses emerged as the successful bidder, even those on the management side took notice that the victory was won only because the union fought for its members and the company,” said UAW Vice President General Holiefield, who directs the union’s Heavy Truck Department.