Wal-Mart workers in Las Vegas will vote on union representation

In Las Vegas, Sam's Club 6382 workers and UFCW Local 711 have filed for a National Labor Relations Board election. This is the American procedure to force an employer to recognise a trade union in a workplace. The petition follows a one year long campaign in this Nevada city.

For the first time since UNI Commerce affiliate UFCW startled observers with an election victory in a meat department in Jacksonville, Texas, a petition has been filed for an election to be conducted by the U.S. government for an entire Wal-Mart-owned store.

The workers at the Sam's Club (a division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.) on Spring Mountain and Rainbow in Las Vegas Nevada have signed up a majority of their co-workers to have the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union Local 711 to represent them.

Union busting attempts

Since October 2000, Wal-Mart and Sam's Club workers have been organizing to gain UFCW representation in Las Vegas. During this time Wal-Mart has beefed up its union-busting department dramatically, conducted mandatory anti-union meetings, interrogated workers, forced workers to watch over eight hours of anti-union videos and more.

Sam's Club 6382 represents the first of many stores in Las Vegas expected to file a petition for an election. The campaign in Las Vegas has introduced new labor organizing methods like a bi-weekly talk radio show, a fully featured website (www.walmartworkerslv.com) run by the workers, online authorization cards and a strong networking system.

Wal-Mart workers earn less

Wal-Mart workers in Las Vegas want union representation because they earn an estimated USD 3-6 less than their union counterparts and have to pay for their medical insurance and benefits. UFCW-represented workers get 100% employer-paid medical and benefits. UFCW Local 711 Union members earn USD 15-16 after completing 1-2 years of work (2000 hours total) and receive regular pay raises while Wal- Mart workers typically start off at USD 7-8 per hour and receive from 0 to 50 cent raises every year if they meet a highly-subjective qualification.

Many Wal-Mart workers cannot afford the medical insurance which costs nearly USD 40 per month for a single person, plus an annual USD 350 deductible. (Wal-Mart also has a USD 6 bi weekly medical plan but requires employees to pay over USD 1000 in an out-of- pocket deductible.)

Fifty per cent must support

The U.S. Government requires workers and the union of their choice to have at least 30 per cent of their co-workers signed up with 'Union authorization cards' in order to file for a National Labor Relations Board election. During an election, eligible workers at the location will be able to vote 'for' or 'against' the petitioning union. When a union is voted in by 50 per cent plus one person both the company and union sit down for negotiations to form a mutually-beneficial contract for the workers and to improve workplace conditions.