Wal-Mart Employees Says No To Union

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2004-04-03 08:33am

Hell No We Won`t Join I will try to find an updated story on an english news site

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2004-04-03 01:54pm

"Happy little slaveys to the Company are We"

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2004-04-03 02:40pm

Wal-Mart has closed stores in the past that have unionized.

Personally, I think the best approach to unionize Wal-Mart would be to organize several of their Distribution Centers at one time.

They may shut down one or two centers in order to avoid the union, but they can't shut half of them down without committing corporate suicide.

The problem is that Wal-Mart will fire you at the drop of a hat if they even suspect you are pro-union.

Here's what Jim Hightower has to say about Wal-Mart.

Thinking union? Get outta here! "Wal-Mart is opposed to unionization," reads a company guidebook for supervisors. "You, as a manager, are expected to support the company’s position. . . . This may mean walking a tightrope between legitimate campaigning and improper conduct."

Wal-Mart is an unrepentant and recidivist violator of employee rights, drawing repeated convictions, fines, and the ire of judges from coast to coast. For example, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has had to file more suits against the Bentonville billionaires club for cases of disability discrimination than any other corporation. A top EEOC lawyer told Business Week, "I have never seen this kind of blatant disregard for the law."

Likewise, a national class-action suit reveals an astonishing pattern of sexual discrimination at Wal-Mart (where 72% of the salespeople are women), charging that there is "a harsh, anti-woman culture in which complaints go unanswered and the women who make them are targeted for retaliation."

Workers’ compensation laws, child-labor laws (1,400 violations in Maine alone), surveillance of employees—you name it, this corporation is a repeat offender. No wonder, then, that turnover in the stores is above 50% a year, with many stores having to replace 100% of their employees each year, and some reaching as high as a 300% turnover!

Sokar · Post by **Sokar** » 2004-04-03 03:02pm

This is nothing new. I worked for 'them' for the last two years, and while I was lucky and worked at happy, prosperous stores, its was well known that to even utter the idea of 'unionization' you are courting being fired. Should you be brazen enough to attempt formation of a union, management is going to find something, anything, to can you on. Why, simple, if a union starts in your store, the entire management team WILL be fired in a heartbeat, and replaced with a handpicked crew of union busters from Bentonville.

Its just the way they work.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2004-04-03 03:08pm

I wonder if Wal-Mart Canada does the same as in the US

Well my brother think the primary reason the union want to get in Wal-Mart is not entirely to protect workers against abusive bosses,but to get more money from union members.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-04-03 04:24pm

Geez, I didn't know they were that sleazy. I guess they're worthy to buy out Weyland-Yutani after all.

Tribun · Post by **Tribun** » 2004-04-03 04:34pm

Another reason why Wal-Mart got kicked into the balls in Germany.
They not thought, that the German laws for employment are strict and breaking them is a serious and very expensive matter, that will damage you greatly.
By the way, here, Wal-Mart is still the little rival, who can't do anything, because the market is already divided between the big ones, and Wal-Mart is VERY unpopular.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2004-04-03 04:40pm

I've only been inside a Wal-Mart once, and I can't say I was terribly impressed with their selection. It was like it took the worst aspects of K-mart and Costco and combined them. You have almost the size of Costco and the heavy in-store traffic, with a layout more like K-mart's.

No thanks.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2004-04-03 05:45pm

I've worked in retail unions and I haven't been impressed--when you're making $6.50 an hour to run a cash register, the last thing you want to have to pay are union dues, and my union made it plain they didn't give a shit about the part-timers anyway. But Wal-Mart is as slimy as big companies come, and they need a good kick in the face from a union.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-04-03 06:04pm

One more reason I don't shop at Wal-Mart.

Andrew J. · Post by **Andrew J.** » 2004-04-03 06:04pm

Sometimes, when I'm depressed, I think a communist revolution would almost be worth it if it meant getting rid of Wal-Mart.

Then I come to my senses and realize that the same sort of people would probably be in charge of the People's Crappy Product Distribution center, or whatever.

Pablo Sanchez · Post by **Pablo Sanchez** » 2004-04-03 07:06pm

Crayz9000 wrote:I've only been inside a Wal-Mart once, and I can't say I was terribly impressed with their selection. It was like it took the worst aspects of K-mart and Costco and combined them. You have almost the size of Costco and the heavy in-store traffic, with a layout more like K-mart's.

No thanks.

They are very crappy stores, but they hit on a winning business plan. They deal in mass and fuck their employees to save on costs and keep their prices low, then they smash the local competition, and they prefer to do this in smaller towns where the locals can't just hop in their cars and drive an extra fifteen minutes to get to another store.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2004-04-03 07:10pm

I like to go into Wal Mart just to watch the fat women in spandex beating the hell out of their kids. It happens every time I go.

I really hope that, somehow, the employees manage to start unionizing. Given the average intelligence level of Wal Mart employees, however, I don't see it happening any time soon.

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2004-04-03 09:37pm

Wall mart pisses me off. The only reason i shop there is because my mom flat out refususes to drive the extra 10 minutes to get to a good mall (considering wally world is already a 20-25 min drive can't help). I try and avoid buying much. Their electronics dept is shit.

Darth Raptor · Post by **Darth Raptor** » 2004-04-03 10:01pm

They've changed their tune somewhat. Now they blather on about how they're not anti-union but rather "pro-Associate"; meaning they feel their system is superior to anything a union has to offer. How? They have the open door policy, so that any employee can talk to any level of management. Oh yeah, and you're called an "Associate" instead of just "Employee". What else could you possibly want? And is it really necessary to shell out all those dues every month?

They also say that although you can voice your opinions and concerns, that doesn't mean you always get what you want.

CDiehl · Post by **CDiehl** » 2004-04-03 11:05pm

I couldn't care less if Wal-Mart doesn't want union employees, because it's none of my business. Wal-Mart is a private business, and its owners are private citizens who have the same right to freedom of association as anyone else. While unions and their supporters have the right to their opinion like everyone else, that right is trumped by the right of Wal-Mart's owners to dictate what does or doesn't go on their property. I don't know why they have such a policy, but I can imagine reasons to have a similar one if I owned my own business.

Pablo, are we to be shocked that a business' owners seek to minimize their costs and make a profit? If you did not know already, that is what businesses are designed to do. If you think making money is so dishonest, then may I suggest that you stop accepting your paychecks in the future?

Andrew J, I have no desire to live and one day raise children in a Stalinist police state in the name of your little vendetta against Wal-Mart's owners. That you would wish such a fate on me and millions of others for such a trivial reason, as if there were a worthy one, is far more selfish and sinister than anything Wal-Mart's owners have ever done.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2004-04-03 11:09pm

Wal-Mart employees have the same right to organize as anyone else--freedom of association applies to them, too. Wal-Mart routinely violates labor law to prevent this and treats their employees like shit, and they've made an art form out of wiping out entire towns' business districts with predatory pricing tactics (followed by enormous price hikes once the competition is out of town). I'm no fan of unions under most circumstances, but Wal-Mart is a shitty company that serves to illustrate why they're still needed.

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2004-04-03 11:25pm

CDiehl wrote:Andrew J, I have no desire to live and one day raise children in a Stalinist police state in the name of your little vendetta against Wal-Mart's owners. That you would wish such a fate on me and millions of others for such a trivial reason, as if there were a worthy one, is far more selfish and sinister than anything Wal-Mart's owners have ever done.

You realize he was joking, correct?

Wal-Mart runs rampant over employees- I know a few people that worked there and were fired for talking about unionization for better wages and to be treat better by managers.

Singular Quartet · Post by **Singular Quartet** » 2004-04-03 11:38pm

I have entered a Mal-Wart twice. Once, to buy Nerf Ammo (Toys R Us doesn't carry Nerf gun ammo. It was rather surprising) and the second time because someone felt the need to enter through those doors.

I personally love how our town, when Mall-Wart got there, stuck them with rebuilding most of the sewer lines within about three hundred yards of their store, and also forced them to plant about four dozen trees. It should be noted, however, that every single one of those trees is dead, and the Mall-Wart has only been open for about six months.

Ma Deuce · Post by **Ma Deuce** » 2004-04-03 11:42pm

Montcalm wrote:I wonder if Wal-Mart Canada does the same as in the US

From what I've heard from a friend who works at one, yes.

justifier · Post by **justifier** » 2004-04-03 11:56pm

Singular Quartet wrote:I have entered a Mal-Wart twice. Once, to buy Nerf Ammo (Toys R Us doesn't carry Nerf gun ammo. It was rather surprising) and the second time because someone felt the need to enter through those doors.

I personally love how our town, when Mall-Wart got there, stuck them with rebuilding most of the sewer lines within about three hundred yards of their store, and also forced them to plant about four dozen trees. It should be noted, however, that every single one of those trees is dead, and the Mall-Wart has only been open for about six months.

Quite an omen, no?

Post by **Steve** » 2004-04-04 12:11am

*ponders mentioning that all family grocery shopping is done at Wal-Mart 5 minutes away*

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2004-04-04 12:33am

I think it's more than just Wal Mart being a private business. They fuck EVERYONE over. There is how.

By paying their employees jack shit compared with other grocery stores, they sell their junk at rock bottom prices. While this seems like a good thing, it hurts all the other stores and their employees that compete with it. Since they cannot really compete, they have to start paying their employees less because they too have to lower their prices. Pretty soon, we're not going to have many stores left that pay wages above the poverty level.

Ask an employee of Raley's or Safeway or any grocery store if Wal Mart is hurting them. Many employees of these unionized stores are making close to around 20 dollars an hour, have benefits and vacation time. Now, thanks to Wal Mart, their facing cuts in their salaries.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2004-04-04 12:35am

Excuse the grammer in the above post. I was doing two things at once.

By the way, does Wal Mart give benefits to their employees? A 401K plan? Unionized stores do.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2004-04-04 01:06am

Wal-Mart also strongarms suppliers and the Walton family uses their influence to jam their fundamentalist values down society's throat. You can't buy Maxim at Wal Mart. Nor, to my knowledge, uncensored versions of albums with explicit lyrics.