If an employee or a group of employees feel they are treated unfairly by the company they work for, they have the option to organize together and strike against the company. Some will form or join official groups that fight for better employee rights in accordance with employment law in Minnesota. Although companies typically don’t retaliate against their employees for striking, some workers fear the process of organizing and protesting because of the consequences from the company.
An organized group fighting for better wages for Wal-Mart employees claims that 20 workers were fired and 50 more were unfairly disciplined after participating in a protest outside the office of one board member of the company. The company stated that the claims are unfounded and that the organizers were paid to protest.
According to the Wal-Mart statement, the employees who were fired were let go for violating company policies, and that the protest had nothing to do with the firing. One employee claims he was told by management that he was being letting go for participating in organized protests against the company. The group claims it represents the best interests of the associates, while the company claims the group is organized by unions.
In an effort to obtain better wages for themselves and their co-workers, several employees may have lost their jobs. The protest itself was peaceful and should not have led to any disciplinary action for the participants. The company may be held responsible for the wrongful termination if it can be proved that they fired their employees for the protest.
Source: MSNBC, “Muted labor protests amid fears of Walmart retaliation,” Ned Resnikoff, September 5, 2013