Unions’ Campaign Against WalMart Gets Press Attention
Posted on May 1, 2006 at 7:39 pm by Chuck Muth
Desperate to stem the continued migration of private sector workers away from labor unions, the political-style campaign against Wal Mart waged by a coalition of labor unions continues, garnering an increasing level of attention from the press.
“Our opponents have organized the likes of a political campaign against us,” Wal Mart vice president of corporate affairs Bob McAdam told the Associated Press’ Ron Fournier in a story that ran in papers across the country today.
While those following the ongoing battle against Wal Mart see it for what it is – a unionization drive – union officials employing sophisticated political consultants continue to masquerade their campaign as one simply to “change its business practices,” as Fournier describes it.
The two campaigns against Wal Mart are driven by two labor unions. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is the driving force behind Wal Mart Watch, while the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) leads the Wake Up Wal Mart campaign.
The unions’ initial drive to unionize the company’s workforce failed. Wal Mart employees have continuously chosen to remain free of labor union interference despite massive spending and attention by union officials.
Interestingly, union campaigns are funded in large part by dues-paying union members at other employers. How exactly unionizing one company directly benefits the employees of another company is not clear, except that union officials are often desperate to unionized companies from the non-union companies that often have a competitive advantage in the marketplace by having a more flexible workforce.
The campaigns against WalMart are staffed by a virtual who’s who of top flight Democrat political consultants. According to a list compiled by Fournier, they include former Howard Dean political director Paul Blank, former Wesley Clark promoter Chros Kofinis and John Kerry former campaign manager Jim Jordan. One Republican, Terry Holt formerly of the Bush-Cheney campaign, seems the odd man out on the anti- Wal Mart team.
Working for Wal Mart: savvy Bush campaign organizer Terry Nelson, former Reagan adviser Michael Deaver and even famed civil rights leader (and Democrat) Andrew Young.
Wal-Mart’s campaign to preserve its business model – one that delivers extremely competitive prices in consumer goods in an array of markets – is extensive. Incredibly, the company even plans to help its competitors stay in business.
Labor officials bent on unionizing Wal-Mart employees, having failed in its direct attack, are using a broad array of messages aimed at tearing down the entire company. Unionizing employees as a stated objective has been replaced with attacks on company healthcare practices, “stifling competition,” “destroys the environment,” causes traffic congestion (from all the consumers choosing to shop atWal-Mart stores), and even “desecrates sacred grounds.”
Interestingly, it appears union officials still have some internal campaigning to complete. New reports filed with the U.S. Department of Labor revealed the Boilermakers AFL-CIO Local 374 spent $8,800 of union member dues on Christmas gifts at Wal-Mart.
Labor Reform News will continue to follow this story and will document union tactics against the company and others that refuse to force workers into labor unions against their will.
- Labor Reform News, 4/24/06
