WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal officials filed a formal
complaint Wednesday charging that Wal-Mart violated the rights of
workers who took part in protests and strikes against the company.
The
National Labor Relations Board says Wal-Mart illegally fired,
disciplined or threatened more than 60 employees in 14 states for
participating in legally protected activities to complain about wages
and working conditions at the nation’s largest retailer.
The labor
board’s general counsel first laid out similar charges in November, but
held off on filing a complaint while trying to work out a settlement
with Wal-Mart. Those discussions were not successful, government
officials said in a statement.
The company has insisted its actions were legal and justified.
"We
now we have the opportunity to present the facts of these cases in
front of a judge," said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan. "No
reasonable person thinks it’s ok for people to come and go from their
scheduled shift without being held accountable."
The protests in
2012 were organized by the union-backed group OUR Walmart, which has
spent years pressing Wal-Mart to increase wages and benefits and make it
easier for workers to organize a union. The group claims the majority
of Wal-Mart associates are paid less than $25,000 a year.
Wal-Mart
has until Jan. 28 to respond to the complaint. The case will then go
before an administrative law judge. If Wal-Mart is found liable, it
could be required to award workers back pay, reinstatement and reverse
any disciplinary action. But the company could still try to work out a
settlement as the case goes forward.
"We’ve never seen a complaint
against Walmart of this size or scope, and we’re glad the NLRB is
taking action," said Sarita Gupta, executive director of Jobs With
Justice, one of the groups critical of Wal-Mart. "Walmart’s attacks on
its own employees and cannot go unchecked."
The complaint alleges
that In November 2012, Wal-Mart spokesman David Tovar went on CBS News
and said there would be "consequences" for workers who engaged in
strikes and protests ahead of Black Friday, the big shopping day after
Thanksgiving. Similar comments were made to employees at Wal-Mart stores
in California and Texas, the complaint said.
Thousands of people —
including dozens of Wal-Mart workers — went forward with protests at
Wal-Mart stores around the country. The company ultimately fired 19
workers who took part, despite the fact that their actions were
protected by the National Labor Relations Act, the complaint said.
The
NLRB complaint further alleges that Wal-Mart unlawfully threatened,
disciplined or terminated workers for engaging in protected strikes and
protests in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio,
Texas and Washington.
Wal-Mart also illegally threatened,
disciplined or fired employees at stores in California, Florida,
Missouri and Texas in response to other worker activity that is
protected by labor laws, the complaint alleged.
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