Four Minnesota women will seek class-action status on Friday for their lawsuit against retail giant Wal-Mart for its labor practices. The women charge that they were required to work “off the clock” and that their complaints about this practice went unanswered. Lawyers for the women estimate that the 63,000 current and former Wal-Mart employees in Minnesota lost tens of millions of dollars in wages as well as 5000,000 hours of breaks per year since 1998, according to Pioneer Press. There are currently 37 similar cases seeking class-action status in 29 states across the country.
Wal-Mart is no stranger to litigation, as the most-sued retailer in the nation, according to the National Organization for Women (NOW). NOW declared Wal-Mart a Merchant of Shame for its treatment of its employees, particularly its women workers. In what could be the largest employment discrimination case in history, the company was sued for systematic sex discrimination in unequal pay, promotion, and training, as well as for creating a hostile environment for female workers in Dukes v. Wal-Mart. Seven current and former women employees filed for class-action status in this suit in federal court. If granted, the case could cover 1.5 million current and former female employees at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club nationwide.
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