Wal-Mart Warns of Democratic Win

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

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 actions by Wal-Mart -- the nation's largest private employer -- reflect a growing concern among big business that a reinvigorated labor movement could reverse years of declining union membership.

...

"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.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB121...9066303381.html

[Dan J 277]

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 actions by Wal-Mart -- the nation's largest private employer -- reflect a growing concern among big business that a reinvigorated labor movement could reverse years of declining union membership.

...

"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.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB121...9066303381.html

Walmart is starting to sound like a modern version of the Anaconda Mining Company.

[Sassy1natl 0]

Some are going to laugh at the article...but this could have a serious impact on the election IMO. Wal-Mart, outside of the U.S. Government is one of the largest employers in the U.S.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Some are going to laugh at the article...but this could have a serious impact on the election IMO. Wal-Mart, outside of the U.S. Government is one of the largest employers in the U.S.

Agreed!

[Sassy1natl 0]

Clinton was on the Wal-Mart board of execs in the early 90's...talk about irony.

[Wei&Shu(Joe) 2]

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 actions by Wal-Mart -- the nation's largest private employer -- reflect a growing concern among big business that a reinvigorated labor movement could reverse years of declining union membership.

...

"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.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB121...9066303381.html

Next meeting: If the Democrats win you'll probably end up with health insurance. Then you'll have to go have that prostate exam you've been dreading! They'll even tell you to have a colonoscopy! The only way to keep your butt safe from intrusion is to vote republican!

[almaty 19]

oh noes!!!!!!!!!!! not union wal-mart...

[Sassy1natl 0]

oh noes!!!!!!!!!!! not union wal-mart...

Lol. Will make for a unique shopping "experience"

[Nagishkaw 510]

oh noes!!!!!!!!!!! not union wal-mart...

Lol. Will make for a uniqueEunuch shopping "experience"

[Sassy1natl 0]

oh noes!!!!!!!!!!! not union wal-mart...

Lol. Will make for a uniqueEunuch shopping "experience"

[one...two...tree 2,762]

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 actions by Wal-Mart -- the nation's largest private employer -- reflect a growing concern among big business that a reinvigorated labor movement could reverse years of declining union membership.

...

"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.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB121...9066303381.html

Next meeting: If the Democrats win you'll probably end up with health insurance. Then you'll have to go have that prostate exam you've been dreading! They'll even tell you to have a colonoscopy! The only way to keep your butt safe from intrusion is to vote republican!

[*Robert* 2]

Some are going to laugh at the article...but this could have a serious impact on the election IMO. Wal-Mart, outside of the U.S. Government is one of the largest employers in the U.S.

It seems to me, all they are doing is getting their employees to vote Democrat, while management can't do anything about it, since most people think along the following lines:

Union - Good for employees, Bad for management.

I personally dislike/distrust unions.

[Sassy1natl 0]

Some are going to laugh at the article...but this could have a serious impact on the election IMO. Wal-Mart, outside of the U.S. Government is one of the largest employers in the U.S.

It seems to me, all they are doing is getting their employees to vote Democrat, while management can't do anything about it, since most people think along the following lines:

Union - Good for employees, Bad for management.

I personally dislike/distrust unions.

Ummm, no...They are persuading them against voting Dem. Even though the Employee Choice Act is bi-partisan.

[Carol and Bruno 0]

A union would never be able to make its way into Walmart if Walmart were treating its employees fairly. I've read too many articles about Walmart being sued due to not paying over-time. My best friend worked at Walmart and she was made to work overtime and they would only pay her regular pay.

Walmart needs to ensure they're complying with the federal labor laws and just maybe there wouldn't be the threat of a union.

[Peikko 1,575]

Ah, the big "union" question.

I don't buy into the idea that if there had never been and there were no unions that every worker would get fairly compensated for their labour. The theory that companies have to provide decent conditions or the labour moves elsewhere. It works with jobs that have a high skill:low # workers who can perform that skill positions, but not low skill:high # workers who can perform that skill.

I do think that it's important to re evaluate how unions operate as well as what functions should be within their remit though. In the same way a company shouldn't have a sword hanging over its employees, the unions shouldn't have that either.