Wal-Mart Accused of Unfair Labor Practice

• A union seeks papers on purported anti-union payments by a former executive fired for allegedly fake expenses.
  

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union, which is trying to organize workers at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., filed unfair-labor practice charges against the world's largest retailer Tuesday to get it to release documents related to the ouster of its former vice chairman and alleged anti-union efforts. The filing with the National Labor Relations Board aims to "seek justice for workers at Wal-Mart," not financial rewards, according to UFCW spokesman Jim Papian. "There is a pattern of illegal activities on the part of this company." After investigating the documents, the NLRB could hold a hearing before an administrative law judge if it finds the case holds merit. It also could issue such remedies as making information about workplace rights available to Wal-Mart employees. The UFCW's move follows a Wall Street Journal article last week that documents suggested that Thomas M. Coughlin, the company's former vice chairman and longtime board member, had subordinates create fake invoices to get Wal-Mart to pay for his personal expenses. Coughlin, however, told several employees that the money was for secret payments to union members willing to identify pro-union employees at stores, the Journal reported. Coughlin resigned last month after an internal probe turned up expense account improprieties that could total $500,000. Three Wal-Mart employees, including an executive, also lost their jobs, and the company turned over materials to federal prosecutors. [more]