Wal-Mart accused on union tactics

Wal-Mart is the largest private employer in the United States

Wal-Mart uses aggressive tactics, some of which are illegal, to stop its US workers forming trade unions, according to the organisation Human Rights Watch.

It says that Wal-Mart has fired workers for their union activity as well as eavesdropping on employees and banning them from discussing unions.

Wal-Mart is the biggest private employer in the US with 1.3 million workers, none of whom are unionised.

It denies the claims, saying they are based on unsubstantiated allegations.

Union supporters 'monitored'

Human Rights Watch says that Wal-Mart managers receive explicit instructions on how to keep unions away and have to call a union hotline at headquarters if workers try to organise.

"Wal-Mart workers have virtually no chance to organise because they're up against unfair US labour laws and a giant company that will do just about anything to keep unions out," said Carol Pier from Human Rights Watch.

It said that it had found evidence that the retailer had sent managers to eavesdrop on employees, repositioned surveillance cameras to monitor union supporters and told workers that they would lose benefits if they organised.

Wal-Mart spokesman David Tovar said: "Wal-Mart provides an environment of open communications and gives our associates every opportunity to express their ideas, comments and concerns."

"It is because of our efforts to foster such an environment that our associates have repeatedly rejected unionisation attempts," he added.