Wal-Mart snatches domain name to block union talk

Wal-Mart claims its associates can speak for themselves. Why

then did the retail giant seize the internet domain name

www.unionizewalmart.com? Simple, to prevent workers from using the

web address to build a movement for a voice on the job.

"Wal-Mart's actions show what the company is truly afraid

of—an organized workforce. Wal-Mart associates deserve the right

to have a voice for fair treatment, living wages and decent family

health benefits and the union is going to keep fighting to help them get

there," said Mike Leonard, Executive Vice President of the United Food

and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW).

Wal-Mart workers haven't been discouraged. Worker-run websites

are building t a nationwide worker-to-worker network among Wal-Mart

associates that is growing. A community-wide Wal-Mart and Sam's Club

organizing campaign in Las Vegas, Nevada, sparked the worker website:

www.walmartworkerslv.com that is run by the in-store organizing

committee and has inspired other sites across the country.

Several others sites of note include:

www.walmartyrs.com and www.walmartwatch.com - both sponsored by the UFCW.
www.walmartswaronworkers.com - featuring former Wal-Mart managers describing illegal tactics they were taught to use against union organizing.
www.therighttochoose.com — run by a former Sam's Club associate in Lansing, Michigan.
www.walmartworkerstexas.com - run by current and former Wal-Mart workers.
www.walmartdayofaction.com - central site for the People's Campaign- Justice @ Wal-Mart