Arkansas high court bars union from protesting at Wal-Mart

Arkansas' highest court has banned a labor union from protesting or demonstrating at Wal-Mart's stores and offices in the state, scaling back a judge's order prohibiting the group from entering the retail giant's property for anything other than shopping.

The state Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a Benton County judge's trespassing order against the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, rejecting the labor group's argument that the issue needed to be resolved by a federal labor relations board. Justices, however, modified the order to cover only activities such as picketing, demonstrating and flash mobs at the Bentonville-based company.

Wal-Mart had sued the union and its affiliate over demonstrations held at its stores.