Wal-Mart Warns Workers Of Democratic Win

UPDATE: Wal-Mart has issued a statement regarding The Wall Street Journal article outlining how it's warning employees to beware of voting for Democrats. AP has the details. The Wall Street Journal article is excerpted below this excerpt from AP:

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, denied a report Friday that it had pressured employees to vote against Democrats in November because of worries that a bill the party supports would make it easier for workers to unionize.

The measure, called the Employee Free Choice Act, would allow labor organizations to unionize workplaces without secret ballot elections. It was co-sponsored by Barack Obama, the presumed Democratic presidential candidate, and opposed by John McCain, the presumed Republican nominee.

The original report from 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 ...

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.

"The meeting leader said, 'I am not telling you how to vote, but if the Democrats win, this bill will pass and you won't have a vote on whether you want a union,'" said a Wal-Mart customer-service supervisor from Missouri. "I am not a stupid person. They were telling me how to vote," she said.

Comments

[BEHM777]

Wow. I am not a Wal-Mart shopper, usually. I mean, if I needed something in a pinch, I may have stopped there. That is now in the past. Wal-Mart will never see another DIME of my hard earned cash. Their job is to sell stuff, not to try to tell people how to vote in a wink-wink-­nudge-nudg­e-say-no-m­ore sort of way.

Wal-Mart is officially dead to me.

BEHusseinM777

[ARTIST50]

Page 2
We can't afford 4 more years of George Bush. But the people here aren't the sharpest tools in the shed. They don't follow the election carefully, they live in the Bible belt, they rely on sound bites, they are influenced by Faux news and I'm afraid for the future of my grandchildren. How do we get through to the regular folks than McCain is not out to be their friend? It seems so obvious to me, but I feel like I'm knocking on a brick wall. Help me.

[wdw101]

then i guess it is good for you he is not running

[MeanGreenMachine]

(more chicken noises)

[ARTIST50]

I hate Walmart, always have, but I live in a small town in IN and the place is packed all the time. Everyone says they're not shopping there, but obviously someone is! I have to go out of town to find another store besides a grocery store to shop in, so occasionly I do break down and go. They ruined all locally owned commerce in our town as they have across America. All their worker's children are on Medicaid, so the state pays for their medical expenses. I work at the local hospital which is the largest employer in the county and it's practically as bad. They wages are so low in some departments that you can get insurance but if you have children they qualify for Medicaid and you qualify for Section 8 Housing. 20-30 yrs ago this was a thriving Midwest factory town where there were good paying jobs with benefits. People were proud and didn't rely on welfare, food stamps or Medicaid to help them. Today the unemployment rate is way over the national average, the jobs we have pay minimun wage and are not enough for a family to live on.

[wdw101]

"I hate Walmart, always have" then don't shop there

[MeanGreenMachine]

Give me your company's name so I can boycott it too!

[Harrier]

With unions, the country had health care, making more money, and less poverty with a ton more jobs than after unions were busted and jobs shipped overseas.

Walmart has lost law suites for abusing employees and are asking employees to vote to demand less wages, worse health care and benefits while maintaining as much outsourcing of their jobs to china as possible. Chop off you nose to spite your face.

[ramal]

Just reason number 1,020 to boycott Wal-mart.

[wdw101]

a boycott or two has been going against walmart for years yet profit is up........­..stock price up to 57.66 very near a 5 year high

[MeanGreenMachine]

Let us add your company to the boycott list.

[Stagehnd1]

When I used to go to Walmart, like over three years ago, I used to get so frustrated by the employees when they stocked their shelves. And because of the demand, it seemed like it was all the time! They made you feel like you had to dive out of the way of them and their pallet jacks. They'd be coming down the isles at 50 mph. Then they'd take up the whole row instead of ibeing off to the side. The whole vibe at wallmart was bad. I would go in in a decent mood, and come out pissed off and/or frustrated.

I wish people would realize that the workers in China are suffering so that we Americans can have items at low cost. It's a vicious cycle.. Until we stop shopping there or the Chinese realize how much more we make here for dointg the same jobs,, the workers in China wont't be better off. And yet they need those jobs. It's extreamly sad. I recently saw the show "China : The People's Republic of Capitalism" on The Discovery Channel, hosted by Ted Koppel.the­y were talking about Waqlmart and it's effects of us and China.
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/koppel/koppel.html

:o(

[wdw101]

i wish my EMPs could push a pallet jacks 50 mph.......

[oakgroveinn]

To LoneStarPr­ogressive:

Sorry, but I've gotta go postal on you.

How did you figure you were boycotting Exxon-Mobil? Because you didn't go to a station with a sign?
Get a clue from the YEARS of such myths and chain letters circulating on the internet. Here's the fact:
Gasoline is a fungible commodity so if one oil company's product isn't being bought up in one particular market or outlet, it will simply sell its output to or through other outlets. A boycott of a couple of brands of gasoline will not result in lower prices. EVEN if enough people stopped pulling in to Exxon-Mobil stations, "to meet the sudden demand, the good guys (NOT Exxon) would have to buy gasoline wholesale from the bad guys (anybody BUT Exxon), who are suddenly stuck with unwanted fuel. So motorists end up paying more for it because they buy it at fewer stations.

BETTER to resolve to get a car that uses less gas. Carpool and take public transportation more. Don't buy crap made of (petro) plastic.

[oakgroveinn]

Correction:

(EXXON is the bad guy in this hypothetic­al.)

[youknowwhat]

The neocon Republican party is for supporting big business. Any working person that has seen what has happened in the last eight years should know that. They are going to use working class people to fight their wars.
They are going to use working class people to get rich, stay rich and to accumulate power.
Wal-Mart doesn't pay enough of their workers a decent living wage and now they want their employees to vote for the elitist neocons who have nothing in common with these working people.

[myersms]

All during this Iraq invasion,while shopping in Wal-mart,I would spark up conversations with employees about the war,health-care etc,and I was most of the time completely amazed at what would come from these workers mouths,it was like I had flipped to the "FOX NOISE" white house talking points network.Th­ey gave the word by word neocon explanations for everything,all the major catch phrases these criminals have spewed out over this disastrous war and collapse of the economy. .Its obvious to me these same employees complain about their health care,fuel ,food prices and wages,etc,but are so uninformed they vote against their own financial interests time and time again.I guess thats why the GOP is so against funding Public Education,they figure if you keep dumbing down the populations IQs,you can get by with pandering any issue.

[Lagniappe]

First off,WHY were you AT WalMart during the Iraq invasion?The military industrial complex is not only fueled by Fox,but NBC .also,owned by G.E.-who has ties to WalMart.rt? Second,your question about why do people vote against their own self interest reminds me of the book,"What's the Matter with Kansas?"-How about "What's the Matter with WalMart?"

[NevadaLiberal]

Myersms, you are so right! The GOP Corporate Crime Family needs drones and workers to build their hive and fuel their money machine and corrupt political empire. And the "average" American has gladly stepped to the counter and signed up. Even though they are hurting themselves and their family's and their communities in the process. I believe that is called fascism...­..where corporations become the government and they sell blind patriotism wrapped in a religeous bow.

[EcnelisDoogod]

Brilliant, Myersms! Americans are bombarded constantly by "Faux News", but faith in the media and our 1st amendment lingers, nonetheless. FYI, "The Wall Street Journal" which published this article is owned by the same Murdock and company conglomerate that owns Fox News. The public trust is being duped in a winner-take-all contest by the wealthy few.

[oakgroveinn]

I haven't patronized a Wal-Mart or a Sam's Club in seven years.
They are the poster child for what's gone wrong in this country.
Sam Walton must be on perpetual grave-spin cycle.
This is the politics of FEAR. The employees (slaves) of Wal-Mart
are having their chains rattled by the powerful.
Don't vote for this
OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR JOB.

Of course, this flies in the face of labor law, but given the tactics
of this soon-to-be past administration, WHAT LAWS?

STAND UP, Wal-Mart employees, or succumb to the oppression.

[MeanGreenMachine]

Sam Walton STARTED the Union busting Policy!

Don't fall for the Myth HE WROTE HIMSELF!

He was a greedy condescending manipulating con-man who pulled the wool over everyone's eyes, especially his employees who made him rich. His contempt for them showed in the disastrous life style he forced them to live.

What a bunch of suckers.

[FaaLaveLave]

Yes, Sam Walton, was against union involvement in his stores BUT he did provide excellent compensation for his workers...­...actuall­y gave them wonderful opportunities to provide for themselves.
Sam never intended for the company to go the way it has. So, hate Walmart if you like but do not disrespect Sam Walton. His idea was to provide the best products to the people of the US for the lowest prices while providing for his own employees. He advocated the "Made in America" program...­........no­t the foreign made garbage that is made by slaves world wide sold by Walmart today.

[reshas1]

Unions spend millions of dollars supporting Dems...
Employees in a unionized company can be forced to pay "agency fees" to the union, even if they refuse to be union members. What you are probably unaware of is the fact that during each election cycle, unions spend millions of dollars of their members' money supporting politicians, many of whom the majority of union members do not even support. In Colorado, Salazar & Udall received more than $1 million from labor unions during the 2004 election. Unfortunately, organized labor wants to change the law to make it easier for unions to pressure workers into paying union dues, and consequently supporting Democratic candidates­...
That is a problem, I have never been a fan of Walmart, not a fan of cheap products made in China, but I now will start going to them.
GO WALMART!!!!!

[Mogamboguru]

I would do so too - if I was a paid-by-WAL-MART tr0// like you...

[DarthMac]

Unions collectively represent millions of working-class people. The GOP represents the haves and the have mores - its base.

[MeanGreenMachine]

The Union fight for their members against Billion Dollar Global Corporations.

All fees are used to defend and protect their members against exploitation.

All Union leaders are members themselves, accountable to the membership by elections, UNLIKE the low level management forced to do the bidding of the Soulless Global Oligarchy, accountable only to the voracious unquenchable appetites of the emotionally underdeveloped narcissists, the stockholder.

[ChristianEcon.com]

" I have never been a fan of Walmart, not a fan of cheap products made in China, but I now will start going to them."

That's very responsible of you. I guess you think the biggest crisis America faces is the ultrarich don't have enough of our hard-earned and hard fought-for money yet. They still need to crack down on the working people, huh?

[godsmess]

I think 80% of people reading these comments must be union members. Unions had their golden day back when federal and state laws did not protect the rights of workers as they do now. Why do you think Toyota has surpassed all of the major auto manufacturers in the US? They don't have unions. Unions allow their workers to become irresponsible, overpaid and lazy.

For America to be successful moving forward I believe we need to get rid of these corrupt unions and educate our workers. An educated work force is the unions worst nightmare.

[MeanGreenMachine]

So ALL Police and Firemen in the US are LAZY?

[Vurz]

Protect the rights of workers?

The Supreme Court of the United States just made pay discrimination legal as long as the employee doesn't file suit within the 90 days of you deciding to discriminate. Most states are "At will" so you can be fired for wearing the wrong color shirt and have no recourse.

[pattio66]

I haven't stepped foot in a Wal-Mart for over 15 years. Not only do I find their labor practices abhorrent, but I got an e-mail forwarded from a well-meaning friend, showering praise on Wal-Mart for their pledge to not carry emergency contraception at their pharmacies. Granted, I have no idea whether their policy on providing a legal health-care product has changed since that time. But I was utterly appalled that since in many parts of the country, the only pharmacy available for hundreds of miles is Wal-Mart's and they were sending out press releases stating they're happy and proud to discriminate against more than half of the nation's population. WHAT??? I'll continue to gladly pay a few dollars more to shop at independent businesses. Fascism, thy name is Wal-Mart!!!!

[wdw101]

they have not noticed your absence...­...

[pattio66]

I know, but I sleep better at night

[changeneeded]

I so rarely if ever purchase anything at WalMart anyway. We can vote everyday with our wallets. We have two super walmarts in our town with a 3rd less than 20 minutes away in another town. Our two are not doing so well and it is rumored they company is planning on closing at least one of them. I say good ridence. Their prices are higher on a vast majority of items, the quality of food and other items stinks, and I'm really tired of the cookie cutter variety of products. And the service...­.need we say more.

[lonestarprogressive]

Yesterday, I bought the last item I will ever buy in a Wal-Mart store. Period.

Last week I bought the last drop of EXXON or Mobile gasoline I will ever buy.

The most powerful message we can send is not necessarily by voting since the big corporations now own both political parties, but by putting our money where our mouth is. It's time for us to put an end to corporate control of this country. A boycott of EXXON/Mobile would be a very good start, then maybe Wal-Mart should come next.

A boycott of EXXON/Mobile would pose no financial hardship for any driver out there. Their gas is just as high as everyone else's - often higher.

[QuicksilverKW]

Thank - you. We stopped buying gas at EXXON/Mobile - Shell - and the like, long ago. Long before gas hit $2 a gallon. Regular is $4.29 in my town, now. I put half a tank of gas in my car on June 12th, and most of it is still there. Driving my car is only a last resort. I mostly ride my bicycle. There was life before gasoline. It was less stressful. I ride my bike to the post office - to work - to the drug store - and yes, to the grocery store, or my husband walks and pulls a cart or carries canvas bags and takes the bus. Shop on line and buy only what you need with no impulse shopping. There is no shame in taking a bus. We do have the choice to make different choices in our lives if it is important enough. Not everyone is able to do these things I do - but most places do have mass transit if people weren't in such a stressfull hurry to get where they are going and realize that ( OMG) they might have to walk a few blocks. People give the corporations power - we really can take it away from them.

[Mogamboguru]

Read:

"The Sheep Look Up" - by John Brunner.

A very good book - describing exactly the way of life you are describing as the only one which is able to lead people out of the claws of "Corporate America".

BTW - that book was written 25 years ago, already...

Enjoy!

[meanguy]

oh, boy...the 'gas company boycotters' are back...wha­t a trmendous WASTE of time...if exxon doesn't sell the gas to you, they'll sell it to the folks who WILL sell it to you...it's not as if the gas will sit on a store shelf and hit its 'sell-by' date and have to be thrown out...on the other hand, GOOD for you on reducing your gas consumption and carbon emissions, quicksilve­r...nice to have the option of biking and public transporta­tion...not all of us are so fortunate

[Mogamboguru]

Read:

"The S h e e p L o o k U p " - by J o h n B r u n n e r.

A very good book - describing exactly the way of life you are describing as the only one which is able to l e a d people out of the c l a w s of "C o r p o ra t e A m e r i c a".

B T W - that b o o k was w r i t t e n 25 years ago, already...

Enjoy!

[laffinatlibs]

LOL...hubb­y must look real manly pulling a cart full of groceries. I will pay for gas and drive where I want and run or ride my bike for exercise.

[Mogamboguru]

Good point.

Some years ago, here in Germany we brought down SHELL on her knees, after SHELL was going to dump an old, oil-stained oil-rig in the North-Sea - named Brent Spar.

After two weeks literally without any revenues, Shell revoked their decision to sink Brent Spar and literally BEGGED customers to come back to them.

"Money makes the World go around..." - Sure, but lack of it can stop the World from going around, too...

[laffinatlibs]

Lol...funn­y how all the libs say "I will never shop in WM again" yet they are packed whenever I go in. Libbys need to remember that all the low income people that they say they care about are the ones shopping in WM because its cheaper and it lets them stretch their money.
As for as the union goes, I worked in one of the largest construction unions in NYC for years, they suck. Unless your one of the buddies deep inside the union organization your just a piece of meat that they could care less about. Best day of my life was when I got out on my own, and when they came to unionize me I told them to go f**k themselves.

[mairs]

How stupid. You don't think Walmart employees are just a piece of meat now?

[reshas1]

Yeah... You are SO RIGHT ON!!!!

GO WALMART!!!

[nomoredead]

25 year union member here. Good pay, full medical, dental, eye care, drug , vacation pay, and a great pension. I'm not complaining.

[Klaspoppy]

nomoredead -Thank you for weighing in. I've worked in union and non-union environments . As a middle manager I much prefer a union environment . Overall I think the quality and motivation of employees is better . I also think having unions present and strong helps local economies . That's one of the reasons the Bush administration went
after the "prevailing wage" laws in Mississippi and Louisiana after Katrina . Unions help establish those wage levels and the "free marketers" wanted to remake that regions economy in the Milton Friedman image.

[QuicksilverKW]

And people end up buying things they didn't intend to buy because they think - wow! This is so cheap. They burn a gallon of gas to save $5. Cheap cheap cheap - they believe the advertizing because they hear it so much. Buy one item you don't need and you lost any savings you thought you were going to have. And Walmart thinks "Gatcha! another sucka!" It works every time. Have to keep those kids quiet. Buy them a cheap toy made in China. Maybe it will deaden their brains with lead poisoning. Will people ever learn? Will they ever stop being lead around by the rings in their noses?

[dragonfur]

Someone once said, "While not all conservatives are stupid, most stupid people are conservati­ve." Point made.