Wal-Mart bid Exhibit B in labor fight

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.theolympian.com/adamwilson/story/747076.html

• Published February 03, 2009

This morning features Round 1 in the battle over a "worker privacy" bill highly prized by unions. It would, in the words of the Washington State Labor Council, "allow workers to choose whether or not to participate in employer communication on issues of individual conscience, including politics, religion, charitable giving, and unionization."
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As you might guess, opponents of the measure see the last item there, unionization, as key. They want to be able to advise workers against it.

But in previewing the hearing in the House Labor and Commerce today, the labor council refered to the politics piece, and pointed to the story of Wal-Mart advising managers to vote against Barack Obama. From the Wall Street Journal:

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. That could lead to higher payroll and health costs for companies already being hurt by rising fuel and commodities costs and the tough economic climate.

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.

Makes you wonder what inspired the addition of religion or charitable giving.