When Ernie Boch and the Automatics opened for Deep Purple at the Wang Center Tuesday night, they got a much larger crowd than they were expecting - or hoping for.

More than 300 people protested outside the Wang before the concert, in support of alleged unfair labor practices at the Boch Honda in Norwood.

Mike Vartabedian, businesses representative for the Machinist Union District 15, said the board filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of about 25 technicians. Problems at the plan have included firing workers for union activity, and using finances to influence a recent vote, Vartabedian said.

"[The] rally," he said, "is to tell Ernie Boch we're not going anywhere."