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We are proud that we
stood up, say Jacksonville workers as Wal-Mart showed its ugly face
A group of handpicked and paid Wal-Mart cheerleaders fell silent as the vote tally in a union election at Wal-Mart's Palestine, Texas store demonstrated an unshakeable base of union support by meat department employees in the face of one of the most extensive and vicious union-busting programs in 50 years. "We're proud that we stood up and demanded a vote on our future. This is a first step to show Wal-Mart that we want a real voice on the job, that we're standing up and standing strong," said meat department worker Mary Rogers. Wal-Mart arranged to have fifty cheerleaders stand outside the vote count, but their silence became overwhelming as it became apparent that the ballots showed strong union support. The company deployed a cadre of union-busting executives from its Arkansas headquarters to systematically coerce employees through threats of loss of pay, loss of retirement benefits, and loss of jobs, cheating workers out of a free and fair choice at the ballot box. "They had mandatory meetings where they'd have 3 or 4 managers talking to one employee. It was just a constant bombardment to where people's nerves got so frazzled they were scared about what the company would do to them if they voted for the union," said Rogers. 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." The UFCW is confident the labor board will throw out the results of the election because of the Wal-Mart's ongoing, concerted intimidation and coercion of employees which made a fair election impossible. The union expects the NLRB to order a new, fair election, free from company threats. The union will also file election objections and Unfair Labor Practice charges with the NLRB against Wal-Mart's illegal tactics, including:
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. Last fall, Wal-Mart's hometown judge issued a nationwide temporary restraining order against the UFCW, barring anyone associated with the union from entering Wal-Mart facilities to educate workers of their legal rights in the workplace. The union successfully forced the judge--who holds more than a half-million dollars of Wal-Mart stock--off the case, yet the "temporary" order still limits union activity while the case remains in litigation. Wal-Mart has profited by pushing its workers to the bottom of the wage scale. In early February, the company announced record profits, but Wal-Mart employees have not shared in the company's financial success. Hourly wages at Wal-Mart average $2 to $3 per hour less than at unionized supermarkets. Wal-Mart is the largest private employer in the U.S., yet fewer than 40 percent of its workers are covered by the company's health plan. Most Wal-Mart workers are forced to get health coverage from the government or through spouses' plans. Juries have awarded millions of dollars to women, minority and disabled workers who have filed harassment and discrimination claims against the retail giant. 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. See also our index of previous Wal-Mart articles and the UFCW website .
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