NY Times: Union Effort Turns Its Focus to Target

[alp227]

In the world of big-box discounters, Target enjoys a reputation as a model corporate citizen that sells the latest in cheap chic. That’s a sharp contrast to the image of Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, which labor unions have pilloried for years, accusing it of providing skimpy wages and benefits and skirting various labor laws.

But the arrows are about to come flying at Target’s famous bull’s-eye logo. The nation’s largest union for retail workers has embarked on its first broad campaign to unionize Target workers.

The union, the United Food and Commercial Workers, is trying to organize 5,000 workers at 27 Target stores in the New York City area. A majority of workers at the Target store in Valley Stream, N.Y., have already signed cards supporting unionization, and a government-supervised election there on June 17 will be the first time in more than two decades that Target workers will vote on whether to join a union.

“A lot of people are going to be shocked that Target workers would consider unionizing because of its very good image and because it’s known as such a fantastic philanthropic organization,” said Burt Flickinger, a retailing consultant who has worked on projects for both the union and Target suppliers.

Full story: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/24/business/economy/24target.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

[xmas74]

1. Unions are becoming more and more necessary

every day. Workers need someone to protect their rights and it's certainly not their employers!

[qb]

2. If Target is really such a model corporate 'citizen' then union bargaining ought to be a breeze.

Now that Target's CEO is a RW freak, nothing is guaranteed any more.

[Recursion]

3. I do wonder if Ulrich's departure has something to do with this

As in, was there this much sentiment for organization when he was still in charge?