The Price of Freedom at Walmart

Take 6 minutes out of your day and watch a new video, Walmart Workers for Change. It shows as effectively as anything I've seen what's happened in America where we now have one set of rules for those at the top and another set for the rest of us. It also shows why Walmart workers and lots of other Americans want Republicans in Congress to stop blocking a majority vote in the Senate on the Employee Free Choice Act.

The video starts with a Walmart worker named Gary Arnold talking about how his pay and benefits are so low that "I feel like a high school kid working at McDonald's." Then Mary Watkines tells how after working for Walmart for 10 years she still makes only $11 an hour and qualifies for food stamps.

As other workers in the film point out, Walmart is the biggest company in the country, making $12 billion in profits last year despite the economic crisis. It can afford to pay a wage that supports a family.

Workers in the video tell how they are trying to form a union, only to be grilled and intimidated by their direct supervisors who control their jobs and chances for promotion. A former store manager explains how she was required to report any union sympathies among what the company likes to call their "associates" to Walmart headquarters in Arkansas. Top executives would then send out a team to threaten workers at that store that they would lose benefits and maybe even see the store close.

"The associates are intimidated and afraid," says Cyndi Murray, a Walmart worker from Laurel, Maryland. "I live in America. My family and other families have paid the price of freedom. And when you tell me that I can't talk about a union -- you're taking my freedom from me."

The film features President Obama explaining why he supports the Walmart workers. Along with a majority in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, he also supports the Employee Free Choice Act that would make it easier for workers to choose to have a union without employer interference. A majority could just sign cards saying they want a union, companies like Walmart would face real penalties if they interfered, and CEOs wouldn't be able to delay forever in negotiating a union contract.

As a new Alliance for Justice fact sheet explains, passage of the Employee Free Choice Act is a key to progressive change in America on a whole range of social justice issues by making it easier for workers to form unions. Union members today are a key voice on green jobs, affordable health care, public education, equal opportunity, civil rights, housing, women's and children's issues, and consumer protection.

As President Obama says of the workers' campaign, "It's not about attacking Walmart. This is about demanding more responsibility from an extraordinarily successful and profitable company. "And in the process making change in America by uniting "ordinary people to do extraordinary things."

Comments

[ThePen]

Great video. This video should be showed to all members of Congress who oppose the Employee Free Choice Act, and to all gatherings of people who seek a better understanding of what the Act is all about. Good to see that the video is worker driven.

What would be nice, though, is to see an actual video in real time of Walmart managers in action when they harass, intimidate and coerce workers from exercising their freedom to form a union in the workplace.

Perhaps a video like that would put a face on the name of what the Employee Free Choice Act is really all about, namely, to allow workers the "...full freedom of association, self- organization, and designation of representatives of their own choosing, for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment or other mutual aid or protection," as pointed out in the National Labor Relations Act.

[MarkChoice]

Six minutes to watch a video on the UFCW web site? I wonder what it will portray?
Ever wonder what the UFCW pays out to run all this publicity, web sites, lobbying, and fighting Wal-Mart, it's a huge amount of hard working peoples income. Why not use that money to benefit those who pay it. It looks like to me they are getting ripped off!!
Ever wonder why Union membership is falling, could it be that we have some of the best labor laws, and that the country is moving to a service economy, rather than a manufacturing economy? No need for Unions
Ever wonder why the Big 3 is in trouble and a good example, could it be high wages and benefits? These workers are still getting laid off
I agree with a few of the comments, get another job if don't like Wal-Mart or the way it runs. Everyone seems to forget about all the other retailers.­...we have a few more huge ones in this country!
It looks like Nan and the Alliance for Justice support the UFCW. I wonder if the hard working members made a contribuition? The AOJ has a nice link to one of the UFCW web pages... it's mentioned above!
Don't forget to gather all the facts, not just what is generated by a few...it's a bad deal for all business, not just Wal-Mart Keep it the way it is....

[DavePalen]

Decorina now clarifies that she didn't mean that each employee decides whether they get a secret ballot (meaning that EFCA does take it away).

I didn't know that I was "disseembling to protect a premier member of the corporatoc­racy." First off, does anyone know what that means? Seems like it is a statement from someone with severe mental problems.

I love Walmart and they are good for the working poor. They have reasonable quality products at very low prices.

[Decorina]

Try again Dave.

Card check means that employees that want to form a union sign a petition or a card. If more than 30% of the employees sign the petition a SECRET BALLOT ELECTION is held. If more than 50% of the employees sign the petition the secret ballot election is bypassed and a union is formed.

Dissembling means lying. Dave now clarifies that he doesn't understand what I said and that he doesn't even understand the EFCA that he claims takes away secret ballot elections, in fact, does just the opposite. But hey, in bizzaro land up is down and down is up. Or is that Wonderland, after you fell down the GOP rabbit hole, Dave?

[DavePalen]

Decorina is lying. The secret ballot effectively goes away if those organizing get a majority to sign their cards. There is no "choice" for each worker to have a secret ballot. Unions are all about getting dues to pay for their perks and to give away to the Democrats. Anyone who believes that unions provide job security is nuts.

Studies have found that Walmart actually helps the standard of living for the working poor. That is why they are always crowded. Lefties like to pretend they are all about helping the poor. Usually it is just all about being anti-corporation. That's why lefties support higher taxes on anything that can be taxed, including cigs and beer. There is no concern for the average American.

Perhaps most Americans will wake up a year or two from now when the recession is still here and, due to cap and trade, gas prices are back to over $4 a gallon.

[Decorina]

No, I am not lying, you are dissembling to protect a premier member of the corporatocracy. I did not say that an individual has the option for a secret ballot.

Unions are the only reason that any worker has any rights at all. Laws are written soley by Walmart actually helps the standard of living for the working poor", then cite them so we can look them up and read them. When you are working full time and qualify for food stamps THAT is an indication that you are working for much less than a living wage. And all the while the owners and management rake in record profits.

[blaqntelligence]

Although my wallet is stretched to the limit, I refuse to shop at walmart. Their quality is lousy and the prices are even worse.
I shop at my local grocery store and the local farmer's market.
Or I grow my own.

[CommonSenseRules]

Here we go with another attempt by the left to spread the wealth and take from the achievers.

First off, it's as easy as, go work somewhere else.

Secondly, if you hate it so bad, go take your skills and try to get more money for them elsewhere. Unfortunately, most employed by Wal-Mart are low skilled, which means low pay since that is what their skills are worth. If other companies paid more for the same skills, workers would flock there and Wal-Mart would be forced to compete with those wages.

Thirdly, UNIONS are outdated and only ruin companies.­...just look at the big 3 and any other unionized organization.

Fourth, you talk about Wal-Mart thugs, just wait what it would be like under union thugs.

Fifth, this whole notion that companies should pay liveable wages, etc is just liberal bs. Companies pay what the market commands in order to make a profit and continue to provide jobs. If someone needs to work two jobs (oh my!) to make a living, then that is what they do. My grandfather worked 3 jobs to put food on the table, but we can't have people working that hard these days....no­, no, that is unfair! Please, it's called a work ethic and doing what it takes to provide.

So, make your $11 an hour at Wal-Mart, then go and make another $11 at Home Depot and bam, you are making a living without UNIONS!

[19iowa62]

I guess what you are saying is: Treat people who aren't blessed with your IQ like dirt.

[howie1]

no iowa62 that is not what he is saying. why is it when someone gives a very plausible and sensible reply to an article or someones statement about that article that folks who are of a liberal bent can't seem to respond in kind,they have to smear like you just did with a snide remark. if left leaning people get their way completely there will simply be fewer jobs for everyone and that includes complainers like the lady with the axe to grind that wrote the article in question on walmart. walmart is an excellent company, warts and all. people are free to work there or not to work there.end of story. if you believe otherwise i want to know whats in your wallet and why you aren't sharing it with me.

[DI-1957]

My daughter, 23, 1 child, 1 absent husband, has worked at our new WalMart since before it opened @ 1 1/2 yrs ago. Started out fulltime and just had her hours cut to 32 per week. She has qualified for assistance the entire time she has been employed. She is on the edge of termination for absences do to child care issues. Our locality has had unemployement > 9% for the last 30 f%n years.

WalMart is doing fantastic, the worse the economy, the better their performance. Cutting the majority of the associates by 20% is nothing but greed. The profit motive is not evil, but as the overriding reason, it is evil. Unionization is the working classes only hope. Fear of the union bogeyman does not outweigh the daily trial of finding child care, keeping up a household, and paying bills. The corporate bogeyman will not negotiate, will not reward effort, will not understand that the child has a fever so no qualified child care service will take him. Slave wages and a race to the botttom is a lose - lose game.
Unions have given us the only workers rights and protections we have ever gotten.

What profit did the right wing marine earn for us? Freedom? Freedom for the corpratocracy to plunder the entire world. 10 years at a job means nothing. If RWM had ten years in the Marine Corp it sure meant something.

[TryToBeFlexible]

I never shop at Walmart, and have not for years. I would consider starting to shop there, if they were unionized, but for now, it is just too abusive to support.

[EFCANOW]

The Price of Freedom at Walmart
Happens Everytime Workers Try To Unionize

A Look at Employer FEAR, Coercion and Intimidation Union Busting Tactics Press Below

http://efcanow.blogspot.com/2009/02/just-say-no-to-employee-free-choice-act.html


Employee Free Choice Act Now Launches Website to Educate Public on Card Check Legislation

The Truth About EFCA.Org is part of a multi-faceted new media campaign slated to help shed light on the "card check" issue and expose some of the misinformation being spread by corporate front groups who oppose the EFCA and who try to continue their control and lavish life styles. Besides tracking the latest news on EFCA, the www.TheTru­thAboutEFC­A.Org website contains a link to our blog with contributions from EFCA bloggers and special guests.

Website: www.TheTru­thAboutEFC­A.Org

http://efcanow.blogspot.com/

[Decorina]

Great article Nan.

And now the drooling, ranting trolls will surface with the usual "it is all about denying a secret ballot" lies. It is not. Secret ballots are still allowed, the employees have only to ask for it. If they do, it far lessens the chances for management to frighten and intimidate the workers and stall the union indefinitly.

The middle class and the working poor (they are becoming the same thing) need to stop voting against their own best interests. Support the EFCA and reclaim your rights as a worker!

[howie1]

decorina if what you are saying is anyone who truly believes that a union is not in their best interest a drooling troll how do you expect people to accept what you are saying. i find it insulting. i live in a right to work state. if someone wishes to belong to a unuion they can and if they don't wish to they don't have to.there is little if any turmoil between the different camps. i lived in a closed shop state and lost two jobs to unions that demanded the owners of the bottling plant dispose of me or they would strike. being a high school student its was lesson i never forgot and probaly wont ever forgive. i really needed that 1.65 an hour at that time. why aren't you picking on sears ,jc penney, and a host of other no union stores. why just walmart. didn't you just love the way all those folks lined up for walmart jobs in indiana when chicago thought a bigbox walmart store was beneath them. indiana got the taxes and the salaries for folks that had no jobs or jobs (welfare) that wasn't as beneficial as a walmart job. its ok if you want to stay poor and not accept a walmart job but who appointed you god and gave you the right to tell another person who they can work for and at what rate.

[RightWingMarine]

If someone is unhappy with the pay or benefits they have at their current job they can go to work somewhere else. No town has only one employer. Will times be tough and will it be hard to make ends meet during their transition from WalMart to somewhere else? Yes, but no one promised you a rose garden.

People lament how little WalMart pays and that it is not enough to support a family on. Why did they have a family knowing what their pay was? Either they worked for walmart and then decided to have children or they had children and then decided to work for WalMart. Either way they knew beforehand what they were gettting themselves and their families into.

One person in the article complains that she only earns $11/hr and that isn't enough. How much does she produce for WalMart? If by having her as an employee WalMart makes $11/hr from her labor why should they pay her more? Why would any company pay any employee $12/hr if the employee can only produce at $11/hr? The amount of time she has spent with the company is meaningless, so what if she has been there for 10 years why should she be paid more for that?

If these employees thought that the intimidation from WalMart against unions was bad wait until the EFCA passes and union goons show up at her home with the petition to "encourage" her to sign.