Mercedes Hit With Unfair Labor Practice Charges by Auto Union

The United Auto Workers union has filed charges with the federal labor board against Mercedes-Benz Group AG, alleging “aggressive and illegal union busting” at the car maker’s largest US plant.

The charges, claiming that workers were intimidated and fired for supporting the union, suggest a drawn-out and contentious campaign ahead at the Vance, Ala., plant, part of a broader UAW push to organize southern auto plants.

The union said in a statement Tuesday that Mercedes stonewalled medical paperwork in retaliation against one union supporter. It also accused the company of disciplining a cancer patient for having his cell phone on the job to reach his doctor.

Yet another worker was said to be fired for violating the no-phone policy after he complained to his bosses about watching anti-union videos, UAW said.

The charges come a day after the National Labor Relations Board announced a union election at a Tennessee Volkswagen plant next month, part of a targeted effort to organize foreign-owned car plants in the South.

The UAW said last month that more than half the workforce at the Mercedes Alabama plant had submitted cards in favor of joining the union.