The National Labor Relations Board Office of the General Counsel has issued a consolidated complaint against Walmart for violations of the National Labor Relations Act over allegations that the retail giant violated the rights of its employees in 13 states.

Under the NLRA, private-sector employees have the right to act together to try to improve their wages and working conditions with or without a union. 

According to the NLRB, Walmart violated the NLRA when:

Walmart stores in California and Texas unlawfully threatened employees with reprisal if they engaged in strikes and protests;

Walmart unlawfully threatened, disciplined, and/or terminated employees for engaging in legally-protected strikes and protests at stores in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Washington; and

Walmart unlawfully threatened, disciplined, and/or terminated employees in anticipation of, or in response to, employees' other protected concerted activities at stores in California, Florida, and Texas.

According to the NLRB, Walmart was notified that complaints were authorized in November 2013, but withheld issuing them to allow time for settlement discussions.  “The discussions have not been successful,” the NLRB stated. 

More than 60 Walmart supervisors and one corporate officer are named in the complaint. The cases were consolidated to avoid unnecessary costs or delay, the NLRB stated.

The complaint involves more than 60 employees, 19 of whom Walmart allegedly discharged as a result of their participation in activities protected by the NLRA. 

Walmart has until Jan. 28 to respond to the complaint.  No hearing date has been set. 

The NLRB further stated that it has authorized or issued complaints in other Walmart cases, and additional charges remain under investigation.