Wal-Mart will stop at nothing to prevent its employees from having a voice on the job. The world's largest retailer recently pulled out legal maneuvers to stall a union election at the New Castle, PA Supercenter.

Employees in the Tire & Lube Express department of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in New Castle, PA stood up for a voice on the job and filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board on June 13, 2000. Frustrated by poor treatment, workers organized to get a voice on the job with United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 880.

"The workers are fed up with Wal-Mart's lousy treatment and lack of respect for their hard work. They risk their health and safety every day on the job and Wal-Mart hasn't taken the proper steps to make their workplace safer," said Lou Maholic, Organizing Director for UFCW Local 880.

Wal-Mart challenged the workers' petition, causing unnecessary hearings and delays before the workers have a chance to vote in a union election. This is a typical Wal- Mart delay tactic. The Labor Board has already certified unionization efforts in separate departments such as the meat department in a Wal-Mart Supercenter and auto departments at other department stores like Sears.

"Wal-Mart's delay tactics are going to backfire. These workers are standing up for a voice, so they can make their workplace a better workplace. Dragging workers' through legal maneuvers will only strengthen their resolve to stand together for a better future with a union," said Maholic.

In February, meat department workers at Wal-Mart's Jacksonville, Texas store voted for union representation with UFCW Local 540, and are demanding that the company obey the law, respect their choice, and begin immediate good-faith bargaining. Meat department workers in Palestine, Texas filed numerous charges with the NLRB for the company's federal labor law violations during their union election campaign in May, 2000.

UFCW Director of Strategic Programs Mike Leonard said, "These workers are determined to gain union representation, and they're not alone. The UFCW is standing with them all the way and so are Wal-Mart and Sam's Club employees across the country who daily contact the UFCW, wanting to know about their rights to form a union."

UFCW Local 880 currently represents over 27,500 workers in Northeast Ohio and Western PA at Giant Eagle, Tops and other major grocery stores. The UFCW is the largest organization of retail workers in North America, with 1.4 million members. Workers at retail food industry leaders such as Kroger and Safeway are members of the UFCW.