NLRB to Issue Complaints against Walmart for Firing Workers over 2012 Black Friday Protests

Image gives credit to REUTERS.

Each year, as the biggest shopping day of the year approaches, Walmart usually has to face crucial times as mob of aggravated employees flock outside its stores across the U.S. to voice out their grievances regarding the giant retailer’s alleged employment misconducts, low wages and poor benefits.

In fact, last year, as the Thanksgiving and Black Friday kicked off, approximately 30,000 Walmart employees and advocates staged protests all over the country in an aim to demand for higher wages and better benefits. However, instead of giving into the workers’ demand, the giant retailer allegedly threatened, disciplined and even fired several employees who participated in the nationwide protests.

Apparently, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has found a reasonable cause to believe the said alleged employment misconducts.

"During two national television news broadcasts and in statements to employees at Walmart stores in California and Texas, Walmart unlawfully threatened employees with reprisal if they engaged in strikes and protests on November 22, 2012. Walmart stores in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Washington unlawfully threatened, disciplined, and/or terminated employees for having engaged in legally protected strikes and protests," the NLRB said during a press release.

Subsequently, the labor board likewise announced that it is ready to issue complaints against Walmart for illegally threatening, disciplining and even terminating employees involved in the 2012 Black Friday protests, unless the company reach a settlement agreement with the parties involved.

Walmart on the other hand told the Wall Street Journal through a spokesperson that the company prefers to defend its action since it is lawful and justified, the reports said.

This year, just before Black Friday begins, hundreds of protests were already staged outside Walmart stores in different locations which include Seattle, Sacramento, Cincinnati, Dallas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Miami, Tampa and Los Angeles. In fact, in the state of California alone, a wrongful termination lawyer speculated that protests this year are much bigger than last year.