HOPE — The National Labor Relations Board accuses Southern Bakeries in Hope of unfair labor practices in regard to union membership of its employees.
The board filed a petition in federal court in Texarkana alleging the company illegally threatened, disciplined and fired employees because of their union and other protected activities.
Southern Bakeries attorney David Swider denies the allegations and wrote in response to the petition that company employees have tried three times to decertify the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 111 and withdraw from it.
Southern Bakeries executive Vice President Rickey Ledbetter told the Texarkana Gazette that the company is trying to protect the rights of its employees.
The labor board says company officials pressured the employees to disassociate with the union.