MERCEDES-BENZ in Vance, Alabama replaced the head of the company in the United States on Thursday in an effort to stop workers from voting to be represented by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. 

The removal of chief executive Michael Gobel comes as the UAW steps up its organising campaign across non-union car plants in the US.

More than 6,000 workers are set to vote on union representation from May 13-17 at the German-owned company.