Wal-Mart Surveillance of Protesters Criticized
Recent litigation against Wal-Mart brought to light the fact that strikers during 2012 and 2013 protests were under surveillance. The Organization United for Respect at Wal-Mart (OUR Wal-Mart), a worker center advocating on behalf of employees at Wal-Mart, says the company enlisted Lockheed Martin and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to track the protesters.
Attorney Phillip Schreiber said, "Surveillance of employees engaged in protected and concerted activity such as a strike generally is unlawful interference with the employees’ rights under Section 7 of the NLRA [National Labor Relations Act]. Surveillance implies a deliberate observation of employee activity by management, often involving recording of the identities of the participants."