Labor & Employment

Washington, D.C. - The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) is seeking an injunction from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. relating to the closure of five stores due to alleged plumbing problems. The UFCW wants the NLRB to force Wal-Mart to rehire 2,200 store employees who are currently on paid leave while the stores are closed for what Wal-Mart says are necessary plumbing repairs.

New York -- Staples said it has named Peter J. Scala as executive VP, merchandising, effective immediately. Scala will report to Demos Parneros, president, North American stores and online, and will be a member of the company’s executive committee.

Most recently, Scala served as senior VP of merchandising, online marketplace, leading the rapid expansion of Staples’ product assortment to support small and mid-size business customers.

Camp Hill, Pa. - Steve Rempel, who spent 35 years in a variety of executive positions at Safeway, has been named Rite Aid’s senior VP and CIO. In this position, Rempel will have responsibility for all aspects of the company’s technology and information operations, including computer systems, network infrastructure, telecommunications and data security.

Staples Inc. has made a change in a key executive position even as the company awaits regulatory approval for a pending merger with Office Depot.

Staples said it has named Peter J. Scala as executive vice president, merchandising, effective immediately. Scala will report to Demos Parneros, president, North American stores and online, and will be a member of the company’s executive committee.

Washington, D.C. – The National Retail Federation (NRF) and Gap Inc. are both asking Congress to approve legislation that would reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), saying such authority is critical to advancing free trade agreements.

Phoenix -- Sprouts Farmers Market said it has completed a new five-year, $450 million revolving credit facility to replace its existing term loan and revolving credit facility.

Publix is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year with an annual day of service in which more than 4,000 of its employees will participate in service projects.

Publix employees across the company’s six operating states will be volunteering with more than 125 nonprofits whose focus is on youth, education or the plight of the hungry and homeless.

Stockholm, Sweden - H&M will open at Uptown Village, Cedar Hill, Texas. Measuring approximately 21,000-sq.-ft., the store is set to open in the fall of 2015 and will add to fast-fashion chain’s 14 current locations in the state of Texas.