The United States National Labor Relations Board issued a formal complaint against Walmart saying it violated labor rules by threatening and punishing workers who joined pro-union protests. The complaint says that the country's large employer and a longtime foe of unions violated employee rights in 14 states during the November 2012 Thanksgiving holiday protests. The NLRB complaint, which consolidates a number of separate cases, involves more than 60 employees, including 19 who were fired or laid off illegally after taking part in the protests.

It names 60 company supervisors and one corporate officer for taking action against workers that allegedly violated their rights. The NLRB issued the complaint after giving the company time to reach settlements with complainants that did not resolve the problems. The complaint deal with a nationwide campaign by pro-union the company workers and supporters from union groups during the 2012 Thanksgiving weekend, normally the heaviest shopping period of the year. The protesters highlighted the company's low wages and tough working conditions, garnering widespread media attention.

In November, the NLRB accepted most of the workers' complaints, finding the company in violation of the law for its actions against workers, but gave the company time to try to settle them. The complaint gives the company until January 28 to respond, after which a hearing will be held under an administrative law judge, according to NLRB procedures.