The National Labor Relations Board released a statement on Tuesday regarding the complaint filed by the giant retailer Wal-Mart against its union opponents over whether their store workers could walk out on Black Friday this week. :
The NLRB Office of General Counsel is continuing to investigate the Wal-Mart charge filed in our Little Rock resident office last Friday alleging illegal picketing at its stores by the United Food and Commercial Workers union.
Beginning Monday morning, staff from multiple regions have been taking affidavits from witnesses and sifting through numerous documents provided by Wal-Mart, as well as obtaining a response and evidence from the union. The legal issues – including questions about what constitutes picketing and whether the activity was aimed at gaining recognition for the union – are complex.
Also, there are many distinct factual circumstances at stores across the country to consider. The Memphis Office expects to complete its investigation tomorrow (Wednesday). Because of the complexity of the case, it will then be sent to the NLRB Division of Advice in Washington DC for further analysis. Under these circumstances, the Office of General Counsel does not expect to make a decision before Thursday on whether or not to seek an injunction to stop the activity.
According to reports from Fox News, Wal-Mart filed their complaint on Friday with the NLRB against the the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union and claimed the union disrupted business at their national chain by conducting protests, pickets, flash mobs, and rallies in front of their stores.
