I don’t care how you feel about Obama just as long as you vote; however, I do care if you’re voting against Obama because your employer tells you how to vote and/or tries to scare you into making a choice.
That being said, here is reason #450 to vote for Obama and reason #908 not to shop at Wal-Mart.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Friday it has held meetings with U.S. store managers warning them of issues that could arise if Democrats win power and pass a law that would make it easier for workers to unionize, but stressed it was not telling workers how to vote.
Wal-Mart opposes proposed legislation called the Employee Free Choice Act, which would make it easier for workers to unionize by signing a card rather than holding a vote.
“We believe EFCA is a bad bill and we have been on record as opposing it for some time,” Wal-Mart spokesman David Tovar said. “We feel educating our associates about the bill is the right thing to do.”
The Wall Street Journal reported that about a dozen employees who attended meetings in seven states said executives told them employees would be required to pay hefty union dues and get nothing in return, and warned that unionization could force Wal-Mart to cut jobs as labor costs rise.
The Journal report said Wal-Mart human-resources managers who run the meetings do not specifically tell attendees how to vote in November’s presidential election, but they make it clear that voting for Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama would be tantamount to inviting unions in.
“If anyone representing Wal-Mart gave the impression we were telling associates how to vote, they were wrong and acting without approval,” Tovar said.
Wal-Mart, which does not have a unionized U.S. workforce, has been the target of union-backed groups that criticize the retailer for everything from its pay practices to its health care benefits.
(Reporting by Nicole Maestri; Editing by Ted Kerr)
Oh, Wal-Mart, I’m so glad that your Human Resources department is now operating as a branch of your political action committee.
It’s such a shame — if Wal-Mart only realized that it’s big enough to call off the dogs and take down the anti-union electric fences around the perimeters of the parking lots*, they could change the dynamic of the American workforce and make unions into powerful partners. Wal-Mart could work with the unions — much like they work with consumer package goods companies, logistic companies, etc. — to change the nature of unions, to improve health care delivery in America, and to reshape employee entitlement programs. Wal-Mart could proactively partner with labor groups to transform them into 21st century, outsourced ‘employee management’ organizations.
But oh no. BOOGAH BOOGAH UNIONS. DON’T VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA.
So stupid. This is why you don’t get my money, Wal-Mart.
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*Updated from the original post to more accurately reflect my sentiments — and to reflect the requirements of the Wagner Act. Thanks, Mike, for the catch.
Laurie:
I agree with you that people should have a free choice to vote for whom they wish. But I also don’t have a problem with an employer expressing an opinion on whether or not they agree with proposed legislation.
BTW, it is against the law (The National Labor Management Relations Act and Labor Management Relations Act) for WalMart or any company to invite a union in the door. Prohibition against company sponsored unions.
This is just one reason why Target (or Tar-jay as we say in KC) is better the Carp-mart. That and Tar-jay sweeps the floor evey night.
@Mike You don’t have to invite the unions to the door if you’re Wal-Mart. You just have to take down the chain link fence with barbed wire and call off the rottweilers.
@I’m a Target girl, too, but they aren’t much better.
I have a good friend who is in Management with Wal-MArt and does his best to spin this story.
However, at the end of the day, I agree with you that Wal-Mart needs to partner up with unions to figure out solutions, but those people believe in Sam Walton’s theory that you must save every penny although the 4 Waltons have a bank account of $15 million each. $1 billion shouldn’t hurt them in the long run.
Sam Walton is rolling over in his grave. Save money and buy American? That Wal-Mart hasn’t existed in years.
Aren’t unions already formed by card or petition signing?
Someone please correct me if I’m wrong, but my understanding is the secret ballot part only comes into play (currently) when the company sees the cards or petition for the union and says they want a second, secret vote to make sure people were not strong-armed.
The EFCA would take away the company’s right to a “second vote.” Instead, the NLRB would be in charge of figuring out if voters were strong-armed.
Either way, Wal-Mart’s antics continue to amaze me. Did you hear about this? http://suitsintheworkplace.com/blogs/archive/2008/07/28/998.aspx
Wench, here’s a description of the process:
If more than 30% of the employees sign “authorization cards”, a union will ask the local National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold a secret ballot election. A period of time is allowed for discussion of the merits of having a union before the election is held. If the union wins the election, employees who have a “community of interest” (similar working conditions, jobs, hours and supervision) form a bargaining unit to have the union represent them.
{me standing up and applauding you}
[Me, standing up applauding you]
Oh Robyn, ur so nice & awesome.
Wench, I forgot to tell you that Wal-Mart just breaks my heart. All this potential & people & technology & money and they broker to the lowest common denominator. The first time I went to Wal-Mart (1993, St. Louis), I was greeted by an old dude wearing a BUY AMERICAN hat. What the hell happened to that version of America? Small-town, union-made, long-lasting products and services with a smile??
I find this scary. Wal-mart employs 1.4 million people. That’s 1.4 million voters. If it decides to start using it’s staff to sway politics you’ve got one of the biggest lobbying groups in the election with no real oversight. I added my take here
I got fire from Sam’s Club on august the 28 2002 because I was rude to Member on August the 26 2002 like I hit the Member with a Baskett and call her name because it was to hot in the San Ferando Ca they won’t rehire Me back at Sam’s Club if they rehire Me back she will sue Sam’s Club if they rehire Me back from Tom P Noonan