NLRB Authorizes Charges Against Wal-Mart

On November 18, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced that it would be pursuing charges against Wal-Mart. The agency’s general counsel reportedly investigated workers claims that Wal-Mart had threatened employees for taking part in walkouts surrounding last year’s Black Friday shopping season. According to the NLRB, in several states, Wal-Mart unlawfully threatened, surveilled, disciplined or terminated employees as a response to or in anticipation of legally protected worker activities. The Wal-Mart stores were in a waide range of states, including: California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Washington. Despite authorizing these claims, the NLRB found no merit in other violations alleged. The NLRB found no merit in claims that alleged that worker’s were told to leave private property and changing work schedules. This case will be interesting to see unfold, as Wal-Mart is the largest employer in America, with over 2.2 million employees. [ref]http://news.walmart.com/walmart-facts/corporate-financial-fact-sheet[/ref] Black Friday 2013 is right around the corner and workers are planning other protests of Wal-Marts practices; this authorization of a complaint will give some publicity to the ongoing struggle between Wal-Mart and their employees. [ref]http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303985504579206412630293566[/ref] For the official release from the NLRB, click here.