Worker Intimidation in 08 Election Goes International

by: satyr9us

Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 05:06 PM CDT

From the August 14 Nation article:

Earlier this month the Wall Street Journal reported that Wal-Mart, fearful of mandatory labor laws, is politically bullying its employees to vote Republican in this year's election.

Wal-Mart strongly opposes the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which supports unionization and seeks to establish higher penalties for violations of employee rights. The EFCA would likely be passed under a democratic leadership, so Wal-Mart educates its employees about its strong rejection of the bill, but doesn't tell them how to vote, according to David Tovar, Wal-Mart's spokesman. With the EFCA still dormant, the company's managers are told to call a special hotline prepared to swiftly diffuse any type of situation that may involve potential employee organization.

Well... Walmart's now flexing its muscles to indicate its preparedness to back up its ugly threats. Details below the fold.
 

In 2005, Wal-Mart closed a store in Jonquière Quebec, just as its employees were about to receive a collective agreement.

At the time, Walmart rationalized this closure away-- insisting that the closure was unrelated to the unionization and that the Jonquière store had simply proven unprofitable.

But now:

You had to see THIS coming:  Wal-Mart  is shutting-down its first unionized car service-centre.  The 5 workers at the shop, part of Walmart's Gatineau outfit, had just won their first collective agreement.

Real Clear Markets has analysis:

"The Gatineau workers have merely exercised their human rights under Canadian Law, something that is clearly unacceptable to Wal-Mart," Wal-Mart Watch director David Nasser said.

WakeUpWalMart spokeswoman Meghan Scott said the company is "shamelessly anti-union."

It's unmistakable. Walmart is threatening its workers: If you unionize, you will lose you job. If you talk about unionizing, you will lose your job. If you vote for pro-union politicians, you will lose your job. And if you keep your job, we will abuse the hell out of you.

I do some work with Wakeup Walmart; they have a great break-down of the situation at their blog.

This is ridiculous. How much longer are they going to get away with it?

(Cross-posted from MyDD)