The National Labor Relations Board submitted a complaint against Wal-Mart for reportedly punishing and discharging its workers following participation in protests for more wages The New York Times reported Wednesday.
Wal-Mart let go 19 employees for their roles in protests opposing the company. Additional employees got verbal warnings, or were met with possible disciplinary action according to the complaint The Times reported.
The company reportedly put messages on television, and notifications in California, and Texas indicating the punishment the employees would receive should they protest The Times reported.
The events date back to Black Friday in 2012, and more days in 2013 The Times reported.
"This is an opportunity to shed some lights on the facts, and state our side of the case with a judge," Brooke Buchanan, spokeswoman at Wal-Mart told The New York Times. "We continue to take our obligations very seriously in these matters," Buchanan told The Times.
The group, Our Wal-Mart set up protests at 1,000 Wal-Mart stores throughout in 46 states that brought out thousands of workers wanting to be paid more The Times reported.
The employees were let go because they violated company attendance rules rather than for involving themselves in the protests according to Wal-Mart The Times reported.
McDonald's employees also joined the fight Dec. 5 in 100 cities throughout the United States Bloomberg reported. Service at some of the restaurants could be full of protestors, while others could have very few disruptions.
The protests were the second demonstrations since fast food workers last stood up for higher wages in August. Participants will be fighting for higher wages of up to $15 an hour rather than their current hourly rate of $7.25 an hour or $15,000 a year. This comes after the Service Employees International Union's continued efforts to raise awareness about low wages, and fight for more. Over two million members work in the healthcare, and janitorial fields among others.
