Labor groups take on Wal-Mart
A complaint being filed with the Federal Election Commission today says Wal-Mart held meetings telling its workers not to vote for Barack Obama. Alisa Roth reports why advocacy groups are particularly upset Wal-Mart's involved.
Wal-Mart store in Garland, Texas (walmartstores.com)
TEXT OF STORY
Scott Jagow: One place where prices haven't been rising that much is Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart's been relying on volume, and it seems to be working. The company reported a 17 percent increase in profits this morning.
But Wal-Mart does have problems. There was a Wall Street Journal story a couple weeks ago that said Wal-Mart managers met and talked about the danger of a Democrat in the White House. They said it would lead to more unionization. Now, several labor groups want the government to investigate what Wal-Mart's might be doing about this. Alisa Roth explains.
Alisa Roth: Federal election law says it's illegal for employers to tell hourly workers how to vote. The complaint -- which is being filed with the Federal Election Commission today -- says Wal-Mart violated that rule by holding meetings at which it effectively told workers not to vote for Barack Obama.
The AFL-CIO and the labor-backed WakeUpWalMart.com are among the groups asking for the investigation. Stacy Lock Temple is with Wal-Mart Watch, another advocacy group which wrote a similar letter to the commission last week.
Stacy Lock Temple: The ramifications are far-reaching, because Wal-Mart is the largest employer in the nation with 1.4 million employees. Wal-Mart has a long history of union-busting, and it also has a long history of intimidating its employees.
Wal-Mart didn't return calls before my deadline today. But a spokesman told the Wall Street Journal the company's glad the commission will look into this, "because we're confident they will find that we did nothing wrong."
In New York, I'm Alisa Roth for Marketplace.
Comments
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From Madison, WI, 08/16/2008
Wal-Mart should not tell they're employees how to vote, because it is private, therefore they are allowed to vote for whomever they choose.
From OKC, OK, 08/15/2008
David slew Golaith. The laborer is worthy of his hire. Wal-mart is an atheistic practicing business....they have no morals in other words.
From Palmdale, CA, 08/15/2008
CEO Lee H Scott of Wal Mart running Wal Mart by telling Wal Mart Manager to make Wal Mart Associaltion to vote for John McCain for Persident in November Election 2008 and reduce Wal Mart Employee waged and affordable Health Care and make more Money then Wal Mart Association and make more Stock then Wal Mart Association and use his Privet Plaine to go to his Stock holder meeting every Year from Tom P Noonan a former Sam's Club Association
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