Wal-Mart works with unions abroad, but not at home

[alp227]

Retailing giant Wal-Mart faced an unusual request when it sought government approval recently to buy a chain of stores in South Africa.

Labor groups there first asked for traditional protections, such as job security and a commitment from the new managers to buy merchandise from local suppliers. Then they called on Wal-Mart to end its long-running battle with unions thousands of miles away in the United States.

“You can’t say you violate the right to freedom of association because the culture in that country supports it,” said Mduduzi Mbongwe, who represents the South Africa Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union. “We don’t accept such an argument.”

The exchange highlights the complex relationship Wal-Mart has with its employees as unions become as globalized as the retailing giant’s footprint.

Its employees are not unionized in the United States, where the retailer has become infamous for its staunch opposition to labor groups. Even in Canada, it closed a store after workers there organized. But in the United Kingdom, Wal-Mart touts a growing roster of union employees and has negotiated contracts with entrenched labor groups in Brazil and Argentina for decades.

Full story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/wal-mart-works-with-unions-abroad-but-not-at-home/2011/06/07/AG0nOPLH_story.html

Hmm, maybe I should go to the UK and find a summer job at a Wal-Mart over there, since I don't know too much Spanish and much much much less Portuguese.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. If unions are to have any hopes

we need to go global as well.

Of course the first step Americans need to realize International in any union needs to mean exactly that... INTERNATIONAL

[StevesRedLens]

2. Wal Mart strategy: Conquer the market, then control the market & its workers

That's seemed to be the American strategy. Run out the competition, especially in small towns, then leave the only employment option to many in that community as WalMart. Take a hard-line approach to unions, keep the workers scared and always leave most of them feeling they have one foot in the door and one foot out with part-time, 30+ hour or less schedules. I could go on but it's all pretty well known.

They play hard ball with unionism in America because they know they can get away with it. It has been that our culture allows them to get away with it. I live in a rural, small town area. I boycott Walmart, but you know, I can't drive 30 miles most time to get a few items. And one of my towns last remaining grocery stores shut down earlier this year after our local Walmart started selling groceries. Sad.