BREAKING: Wal-Mart faces warehouse horror allegations and federal Labor Board complaint
http://www.salon.com/2013/11/18/breaking_wal_mart_faces_warehouse_horror_allegations_and_federal_labor_board_complaint/
Monday, Nov 18, 2013 02:14 PM CST
Union-backed groups mount new strikes, announce a potential federal complaint, and promise a big Black Friday
Josh Eidelson
Protesters gather outside a Walmart Neighborhood Store for a peaceful demonstration Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, in Chicago. (Credit: AP/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The worlds largest private employer faces escalations on multiple fronts Monday, including strikes by its employees in Ohio and workers who haul its goods in California; media scrutiny on an employee-to-employee charity initiative; and labor groups announcements that California Department of Occupational Safety and Health complaints have been filed against two Wal-Mart-contracted warehouses, and the National Labor Relations Board is prepared to issue a complaint against Wal-Mart.
OUR Walmart, the non-union labor group closely tied to the United Food & Commercial Workers union, announced on an afternoon conference call that the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency charged with enforcing and interpreting private sector labor law, is ready to issue a complaint against the retail giant. According to OUR Walmart, the complaint similar to an indictment would address threats by managers and the companys national spokesperson for discouraging workers from striking and for taking illegal disciplinary actions against workers who were on legally protected strikes. As Ive reported, a top Wal-Mart spokesperson stated publicly prior to last years Black Friday strike that depending on the circumstances, there could be consequences if workers did not show up to work that day; in the weeks following a longer, smaller June strike, at least 20 participants were fired.
Wal-Mart did not immediately respond to Monday inquiries; a spokesperson told Salon last week that the company had a strict anti-retaliation policy, but that we do enforce attendance policies when theyre broken. The NLRB did not immediately respond to an inquiry.
We should not have to seek relief from the labor board to keep our jobs, Wal-Mart worker Tiffany Beroid told reporters Monday. But Wal-Mart has aggressively tried to silence us. She argued the complaint would provide additional protections for Walmarts 1.3 million employees. When the NLRB issues a complaint, the defendant can settle potentially including commitments to reinstate fired workers and post workplace notices pledging to follow the law or proceed to a trial before an NLRB administrative law judge. That judges decision can be appealed to the NLRBs five presidentially appointed members, whose decisions in turn can be appealed to federal court.
FULL story at link.