Unions at Wal-Mart

[idlisambar]

I just saw a good Bill Moyers story on Wal-Mart. The gist of the story was that one reason Wal-Mart has a competitive advantage is that instead of providing adequate wages and health coverage for its own employees it relies on public services at taxpayer expense. In fact, Wal-Mart managers are encouraged to provide references to their employees of public services that they might need (food stamps, medicaid, etc.).

The story also said that Wal-Mart is becoming an important player as a grocer. Wal-Mart is threatening other grocers who rely on unionized labor with their relatively more substantial salary and benefits.

My question is what is preventing Wal-Mart employees from becoming Unionized?

[Punkingal]

1. One word answer.....

fear. (And ignorance, too.) It is true about the grocers...the grocery stores here (Las Vegas) are union, and there was a big fight to keep a Wal-Mart super center out of here, but Wal-Mart won, of course. I'm sure they paid off a lot of people to do it, too, because it was supposed to have been voted down, and next thing you know, it was open.

BTW, welcome to DU.:hi:

[Systematic Chaos]

4. Yup, all that talk about keeping them out and then....

Yeah, you're absolutely right. I thought for sure we'd never have Super Wal-Marts here but then *boom*, there they are. But then, this town is pretty much run by casinos and land developers so I guess it kinda makes sense in a really bad kind of way.

So neat to think one of our mods lives somewhere here in Vegas.... :)

[Punkingal]

7. Hi, neighbor!

I sooo want to have a Vegas DU get-together! Let's do it!

[Systematic Chaos]

8. Sounds good!

How many of us are there, anyway?

[Punkingal]

9. I don't know.....

I know of 3 others for sure. Why don't you post a thread in the lounge after the holidays? PM me, because I don't always have time to check other forums than the ones I moderate! It will be cool!

[Wonk]

2. mp3, quicktime, and more here for those who missed it

here

[Wonk]

3. re: Wal-Mart and unions

http://www.google.com/search?q=Quesnel+Union+%22Wal-Mart%22

[gmoney]

5. Union busting, pure and simple

"Keeping unions out keeps our prices low... you don't want to pay higher prices, do you?" ...conveniently leaving out the part that keeping unions out keeps wages even lower, fueling the race to the bottom.

If a WalMarter even TALKS to the union reps, they'll fire his/her sorry ass. Also, brainwashing... somehow, the right has managed to make "union" a dirty word among everyday people by associating it with corruption, poor workmanship, and higher prices. Of course, some unions have brought this upon themselves...

(Stupid union story: our local newspaper employees were part of a union, and part of the job protections extended to typesetters. In the old days, newspaper type was set line by line in metal "slugs" using something called a linotype machine -- a very skilled job, now a lost art. The union managed to get a clause that ALL text in the newspaper would be set in metal type by union typesetters. Fast forward a few years to the age of word processing, electronic publishing, output direct to plate, etc. The union typesetters were STILL protected, and even though an ad or story was sumitted electronically, the typesetters would RESET it in metal type using the old equipment, and make a proof, per the union agreement. The set type would then be melted down to be reused, never actually appearing in the paper. And because the type they set was not actually used in the paper, but created as a formality, they didn't bother to keep up, so they were actually being paid to set type for stories and ads that had run YEARS ago, which would be destroyed as soon as they finished it. Sort of a cool zen mandala concept, but certainly NOT a way to convince anyone that unions are good for businesses. )

[BinkieGirl]

6. Union Busting

The union busting tactics of Wal Mart are legendary.

One single store was able to unionize a single the meat packing department.

In retaliation, Wal Mart closed EVERY SINGLE meat department across the country. Wal Mart now sells pre-packaged meats.

Here is a link:
http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_11/b3672108.htm

You might find this article interesting:
It explains the types of people are interested in unions...from their own manual.

http://www.ksworkbeat.org/Issues/Walmart_s_Opinon_of_Union_Memb/walmart_s_opinon_of_union_memb.html

Nothing more damning than one's own words, right?

For what it's worth, I've read some articles stating that these same meat packaging workers have won a legal judgement that forces Wal Mart to recognize and bargain with them...still....

[Flightful]

10. In Canada the unions blew it

The union that organized the Windsor store got certified by a decree from the Labour Relations Board after losing a vote by a 3:1 margin. The employees organized a vote to decertify, lost it, then uncovered evidence that the union organizers rigged the vote. The union walked away without a fight when the vote-rigging evidence (a couple of hundred affidavits from employees claiming they voted to decertify) was presented to the board.

[Lefty48197]

11. anti-unionism is a cottage industry in this country

.