Friday, August 1, 2008

Mall-Wart, er, Wal-Mart Officially Goes Republican

From the Wall Street Journal. Now I know many readers think the WSJ is a Republican tool, but that is not the case except on the editorial page. I vouch for its reporting as first rate. And Murdoch doesn't care, really, whatever makes money, the reason he threw a fundraiser for Hillary. Inside baseball, I know.
Without further ado, then:
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is mobilizing its store managers and department supervisors around the country to warn that if Democrats win power in November, they'll likely change federal law to make it easier for workers to unionize companies -- including Wal-Mart.
In recent weeks, thousands of Wal-Mart store managers and department heads have been summoned to mandatory meetings at which the retailer stresses the downside for workers if stores were to be unionized.
According to about a dozen Wal-Mart employees who attended such meetings in seven states, Wal-Mart executives claim that employees at unionized stores would have to pay hefty union dues while getting nothing in return, and may have to go on strike without compensation. Also, unionization could mean fewer jobs as labor costs rise.
The actions by Wal-Mart -- the nation's largest private employer -- reflect a growing concern among big business that a reinvigorated labor movement could reverse years of declining union membership. That could lead to higher payroll and health costs for companies already being hurt by rising fuel and commodities costs and the tough economic climate.

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