OLYMPIA — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Wednesday he was suing O’Reilly Auto Parts, the car parts and accessories chain, for discriminating and retaliating against pregnant workers, alleging that at least 22 women were harmed as a result.

Ferguson is suing the company, which has 169 stores in Washington, in King County Superior Court.

“O’Reilly’s top-down practice of discrimination caused physical and emotional harm to many pregnant Washingtonians and their babies,” Ferguson said, “and in many cases, cost them their jobs.”