NLRB not likely to act on Wal-Mart protests by holiday

New York -- The National Labor Relations Board Federal was not expected to decide before Thursday on whether to seek an injunction on behalf of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to stop a union-backed group from encouraging employee walk-outs that are expected to culminate Friday and include protests and rallies outside its stores.



The chain filed an unfair labor practice charge against the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. It said the demonstrations organized by union-backed OUR Walmart threaten to disrupt its business and intimidate customers and other store workers.



On Tuesday, OUR Walmart, the organization that has been staging the protests, filed its own charge with the NLRB, saying Wal-Mart was illegally attempting to deter workers from participating in strikes against the retailer on Friday.



In a statement on Tuesday, the NLRB said it was continuing to investigate Wal-Mart's complaint.



“The legal issues -- including questions about what constitutes picketing and whether the activity was aimed at gaining recognition for the union - are complex,” it said.