DANVERS (CBS/AP) – Wal-Mart workers in nine states staged protests and walkouts Friday, including in Massachusetts.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Carl Stevens reports

About two dozen picketers showed up outside the store in Danvers.

A union-backed group called OUR Wal-Mart, which includes former and current workers, is pushing for better wages, benefits and work schedules.

“We’re calling on Wal-Mart to treat all of their employees fairly, give them the right to choose whether they want to have a union or not. It’s a very simple message,” picketer Steve Smith told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.

Wal-Mart, which is the world’s largest retailer, on Friday filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

It said the demonstrations organized by union-backed OUR Wal-Mart threaten to disrupt its business and intimidate customers and other store workers.

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