Wal-Mart denies that it told employees how to vote

News Type: Event — Seeded on Fri Aug 1, 2008 2:05 PM EDT

Article Source: Yahoo! News

politics, wal-mart, workers, labor-unions, labour-unions

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - 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.
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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.

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Groups: Cynicism, Political Analysis, RightsVine
Regions: Little Rock/Pine Bluff

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{"commentId":2343157,"authorDomain":"hircus"}

hircus

They don't tell their employees... err, sorry, "associates" what to do, they just "educate" them on what's good for the company. Right.

{"commentId":2343157,"threadId":"324222","contentId":"1713591","authorDomain":"hircus"}

1 vote

#1 - Fri Aug 1, 2008 2:08 PM EDT

{"commentId":2343650,"authorDomain":"littleturtle82"}

Steph-383696

Walmart actually treats its employees very well when compared against employees of similar qualifications doing similar jobs for its competitors (even the unionized ones like at K-Mart). The usual comparison to benefits for unionized employees at companies closest in size to Walmart (like GM most frequently) regardless of how completely unrelated the actual jobs and their qualifications are is completely inappropriate.
I see nothing in this article that indicates that employees were threatened in any way with retaliation if they voted for this legislation even though the company thinks it would hurt them and some of their employees. They were just provided with some information. Unlike employees working in entry level positions, managers and supervisors have something of a vested interest in the company; if I were them and people were making up legislation that was aimed almost exclusively at my company, I would want to know as much as possible about how it might affect me. Doesn't mean I'd only be interested in hearing their opinion, but I would want their opinion.

{"commentId":2343650,"threadId":"324222","contentId":"1713591","authorDomain":"littleturtle82"}

#2 - Fri Aug 1, 2008 3:02 PM EDT

{"commentId":2350725,"authorDomain":"hircus"}

hircus

I agree that comparing benefits with GM is rather inappropriate (for one thing, GM employees in the past enjoyed unsustainable levels of benefits. Comparing the benefits of skilled workers with a more successful manufacturer like Toyota would be more appropriate. And as for unskilled service workers like Wal-mart, the comparison is even less valid).

I don't think the employees will be told directly how to vote. However, I have no doubt that the view being presented will be rather one-sided -- and by the time it's time for supervisors to discuss this with *their* workers, who knows what they'll end up telling if they are truly convinced that their jobs are on the line?

In the end, the problem with the US wage system, especially at the bottom end, is the way health insurance is currently provided by some employees in return for tax incentives. It makes working even for a generous employer a bit like indentured servitude -- you are more tied to your employee than you ought to be -- and it makes companies without such generous schemes politically too interested in any worker welfare legislations.

{"commentId":2350725,"threadId":"324222","contentId":"1713591","authorDomain":"hircus"}

#2.1 - Sat Aug 2, 2008 5:23 PM EDT

{"commentId":2344885,"authorDomain":"alkimija"}

alkimija

How would Wal-Mart know for whom an employee voted for in the end anyway?

{"commentId":2344885,"threadId":"324222","contentId":"1713591","authorDomain":"alkimija"}

#3 - Fri Aug 1, 2008 5:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":2350678,"authorDomain":"hircus"}

hircus

I don't think they'll actually enforce any retaliatory action against employees who vote Democratic. To suggest that their suggestion is not pressuring is a bit disingenuous, though.

{"commentId":2350678,"threadId":"324222","contentId":"1713591","authorDomain":"hircus"}

#3.1 - Sat Aug 2, 2008 5:15 PM EDT

{"commentId":2354238,"authorDomain":"alkimija"}

alkimija

Pressuring their employees to vote one way or another is certainly unethical and I didn't mean to imply that I supported the practice.

{"commentId":2354238,"threadId":"324222","contentId":"1713591","authorDomain":"alkimija"}

#3.2 - Sun Aug 3, 2008 11:06 AM EDT

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HIRCUS

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Wal-Mart denies that it told employees how to vote

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	Wal-Mart denies that it told employees how to vote	Associated Press	Fri Aug 1	5
	Wal-Mart warns managers about labor bill	Reuters	Fri Aug 1	4