Wal-Mart Intimidates Employees, Discourages Support of Democrats

Wal-Mart will do anything to keep its employees down.

A story today from the Wall Street Journal lays bare the company's plan to intimidate employees and discourage support of Democratic candidates. Using threats of fewer jobs and lost wages, Wal-Mart managers tried to convince employees not only of the downsides to unionization, but the danger Barack Obama's election would pose for the company. From the Journal:

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.

More than anything, this story reveals the truth about Wal-Mart. Despite the millions of dollars Wal-Mart spends to improve its image, a look behind the mask reveals a company that has not changed its appalling business practices at all. The company depends on low wages to stay profitable, and is willing to go to any lengths necessary to ensure its employees never gain the power to talk back to their employer.

Even more disturbing, the stories prove Wal-Mart is willing to intimidate, use scare tactics and mislead workers about the impact of the Employee Free Choice Act in a manner which could potentially impact the outcome of the November election.

Wal-Mart's hourly employees are part of a large group of American workers who are suffering the most in these tough economic times. The company's move to block initiatives that could potentially help this section of U.S. society contradicts its "Save Money. Live Better." promises to low-income Americans.

Meanwhile, Wal-Mart is doing better than ever. The company is not only the largest company in the world by revenue, it's also the largest private employer in the United States. Despite its massive profits and hefty responsibility as an employer, Wal-Mart has done little to improve the lives of its employees. Wages at the company have actually declined since 2004, and the company's political involvement shows its commitment to keeping wages low.

Wal-Mart's aggressive efforts to keep unions out of its stores using intimidation and deceit show how desperately Wal-Mart wants to maintain the status quo in which the company pays poorly, refuses to compensate workers for time worked, discriminates against workers and offers poor benefits. The current Wal-Mart culture is good for Wal-Mart executives, good for the Walton family, but bad for Wal-Mart's hourly employees.

Comments

[Lagniappe]

I wonder if they made them do the daily WalMart "cheer" before the indoctrination,er,I mean ,meeting began?

[jupitor]

The evil thing is they can lower employee's hourly pay, by going 1 hour under full time and call it part time. They have the worst and most costly health care there is. A lot of these employees would work alse where if there was jobs to get. Women are kept down, and wages lower.

[OldKnute]

OMG,, What is the date,, 1902????

Are these workers the New Coal Miners of the 21st century?

The next underclass of exploited workers?

Wait,, Wal-Mart,, try this,,, Shout,,, “Communists,, Communists”

Well?? It worked in the 1950s.

I know,, I know,, Water Boarding!

Naaa,,, too messy and the films will get out.

Ok,, Ok,,, I know,,, do like the Justice department and use Net Searches and Wire-taps. Here, Search for,, Karl Marx, Homosexual, Group meetings of any kind, Church affiliations, social clubs, voter registrations under the following, Democrat, Independent, Undeclared, or Green Party, oh and see if any had taken Social Studies in High School. You know socialist ties, Workers rights, Collective Bargaining. Wait,, ask them if they know who Woody, Arlo Guthrie or Pete Seeger are.

Wait,, Play this song for them and see of their foot starts tapping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNXPeCOCaI4

OH,, and fire anybody with long or fuzzy hair!

Just some suggestions.

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[RightWingMarine]

As a consumer I like that Wal-Mart has low prices. Clearly the employees like working there or else they would leave and work somewhere else. If any employer decides to increase employee pay and other benefits that cost has to be paid and it is paid by the consumers through higher prices. Or it is paid by the employees through lay-offs.

What evil thing has the company done by pointing out where the company stands on issues and informs their employees of the company stance and why it has that stance? People here certainly aren't shy about posting their positions on issues, why does wal mart not get to enjoy that freedom too?

[AZBunny]

WHERE would you suggest they work???

[RightWingMarine]

There are other businesses in every town. There isn't a single town in the United States that Wal-Mart is the only employer and every single person in that town works at Wal-Mart. In the event that this were somehow true, hey can move. Go somewhere else. Sure, life will be hard but why should it be easy? And besides big Mommy government is standing by to throw my tax dollars at anyone who just doesn't feel like working.

[ComicBookGuy]

Obama must be doing something right, if Wal-Mart is afraid of him...