The Political Voices of Women

Why is Wal-Mart afraid of Barack Obama and the democrats?

This is from an article in The Wall Street Journal…

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.

This is from Wal-Mart Watch and in response to the Wall Street Journal article…

“Today’s Wall Street Journal story demonstrates once again that Wal-Mart intimidates its workers. Whether it is locking them in the company’s stores, pressuring them to keep working even after they have clocked out, or giving them “instruction” about their vote, Wal-Mart has consistently exhibited unique examples of unethical behavior that often raise legal questions.

“We have been receiving the reports described in the Journal for the past week. Some of the reports we received were even more egregious than what was described in today’s story. In one case, a worker said they were shown a slide that said “Obama = union” and then were told why unions were bad.

“The stories cited in the Journal are consistent with the numerous stories we hear from employees across the nation every day about Wal-Mart’s intimidation tactics. All of these tactics seem to be designed to keep workers from demanding better wages, decent benefits or fairer working conditions. Wal-Mart seems willing to do anything to maintain a status quo in which the company pays poorly, refuses to compensate workers for time worked, discriminates against workers and offers poor benefits.

“Wal-Mart wants its workers to believe it has their best interests at heart, but as workers told us this week when coming to us with these stories, they know better. The current Wal-Mart culture is good for Wal-Mart executives, good for the Walton family, but very bad for Wal-Mart’s hourly employees.”

From Fire and Judgement…

Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500) spokesman Dave Tovar told The Associated Press that the company did discuss the bill with its employees, including what it sees as the negative impact, and noted that the company’s stand on the legislation is no secret.

“We believe the Employee Free Choice Act is a bad bill and we have been on the record as opposed to it,” he said.

From Olga at On the Trail with Barack Obama…

Seems to me that if companies were treating their employees well, then they wouldn’t have to worry about a union. I guess the threat of losing the power that they’ve held during the Bush administration is kind of scary for these businesses, now in the economic dumps like the rest of us.

Here is a clip of a Wal-Mart training video denouncing unions…

Here is a way to Take Action by signing a petition to Tell the FEC to investigate Wal-Mart…

Wal-Mart has been threatening employees that if they vote for pro-worker candidates like Barack Obama in November, the Employee Free Choice Act will pass, making it easier to form unions in Wal-Mart stores.

Telling employees how to vote in a U.S. election is not only morally reprehensible, it’s potentially illegal.

So…What do you think about all of this? Do you trust that Wal-Mart is taking care of their employees? Or, could it be possible that profits come first? Let me know in comments.