The Atlanta regional office of the NLRB has confirmed the agency has issued a complaint and is moving forward with a hearing on unfair labor practice charges filed by the UAW against Mercedes Benz US International, Inc. The charges stem from the UAW’s ongoing organizing efforts at Mercedes’ Alabama manufacturing plant.

The NLRB’s Atlanta Office Regional Director Claude T. "Chip" Harrell Jr. was quoted saying, "Charges were filed, we investigated and determined there was reasonable cause to believe the (National Labor Relations) Act has been violated, with respect to certain aspects." The hearing has been scheduled for April 7, 2014.

The UAW accuses Mercedes of interfering with, restraining and coercing employees from exercising rights guaranteed under the National Labor Relations Act. The union alleges plant supervisors prohibited employees from talking about the union during work time, but they allowed discussion of other non-work subjects. It also says supervisors threatened employees with discipline including termination if they solicited for the union anywhere inside the plant, but they allowed solicitations and distributions for things that didn't involve the union.

The Company denies wrongdoing saying, “We at MBUSI believe that our actions have been entirely appropriate, lawful and consistent with our position of neutrality on the union issue.”

More detailed accounts of the NLRB action and a related UAW news conference can be found here and here.