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Walmart Warns of Democratic Win
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Tigerlily


Joined: 06 Oct 2004
Posts: 103
Location: mid-west
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 2:20 pm    Post subject: Walmart Warns of Democratic Win  

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121755649066303381.html

I haven't posted here in a while, but I read this and thought you all might be interested.


"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is mobilizing its store managers and department supervisors around the country to warn that if Democrats win power in November, they'll likely change federal law to make it easier for workers to unionize companies -- including Wal-Mart.

In recent weeks, thousands of Wal-Mart store managers and department heads have been summoned to mandatory meetings at which the retailer stresses the downside for workers if stores were to be unionized.

According to about a dozen Wal-Mart employees who attended such meetings in seven states, Wal-Mart executives claim that employees at unionized stores would have to pay hefty union dues while getting nothing in return, and may have to go on strike without compensation. Also, unionization could mean fewer jobs as labor costs rise."



"The Wal-Mart human-resources managers who run the meetings don't specifically tell attendees how to vote in November's election, but make it clear that voting for Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama would be tantamount to inviting unions in, according to Wal-Mart employees who attended gatherings in Maryland, Missouri and other states.

"The meeting leader said, 'I am not telling you how to vote, but if the Democrats win, this bill will pass and you won't have a vote on whether you want a union,'" said a Wal-Mart customer-service supervisor from Missouri. "I am not a stupid person. They were telling me how to vote," she said."
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ltluvit


Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Posts: 224
Location: east of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 6:35 pm    Post subject:  

Tigerlily, thanks for the story.

A bit more (quote also in the WSJ article)
LT

Wal-Mart denies that it told employees how to vote

Quote:
Wal-Mart spokesman Dave Tovar told The Associated Press that the company did discuss the bill with its employees, including what it sees as the negative impact, and noted that the company's stand on the legislation is no secret.

"We believe the Employee Free Choice Act is a bad bill and we have been on the record as opposed to it," he said.

But he said the company wasn't advocating that its employees vote against backers of the legislation.
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USA#1


Joined: 04 Jul 2003
Posts: 1965
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:02 pm    Post subject:  

I don't like unions myself but that is typical union busting tactics used by alot of companies to scare their employees from forming/joining unions. Been through that several times where I work. Employees were even threatened woth termination if they were to go union or advocate unions.
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trueairspeed


Joined: 13 Mar 2005
Posts: 178
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 12:48 am    Post subject:  

If there was to be a "Democratic Win" then most likely there would be far more serious problems than the possibilities Wal-Mart unionizing...
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Major Appliance


Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Posts: 1292
Location: Brand Central
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 2:39 am    Post subject:  

USA#1 wrote:
I don't like unions myself but that is typical union busting tactics used by alot of companies to scare their employees from forming/joining unions. Been through that several times where I work. Employees were even threatened woth termination if they were to go union or advocate unions.


"Union busting" tactics are abhorrent and should never be tolerated... workers electing to unionize should be based on the merits of the situation. Conversely, if a worker group decides to de-unionize that vote should also be based on the merits.
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Magnolia


Joined: 26 Aug 2005
Posts: 1454
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:31 am    Post subject:  

trueairspeed wrote:
If there was to be a "Democratic Win" then most likely there would be far more serious problems than the possibilities Wal-Mart unionizing...


Agreed, True.

Our choices suck.
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