Wal-Mart Chief Defends Closing Unionized Store: Scott Says Labor Costs Guided Quebec Decision

The Washington Post ^ | February 11, 2005 | Michael Barbaro

[fanfan]

When I was in college I worked for a retail giant on a part-time basis. There was a union drive at my store that was prompted by some very legitimate concerns on the part of the work force, and it was quite a learning experience for me both ways (from the union's perspective and the store management's perspective).

Did they ever join? What happened?

[fanfan]

Maybe if more business had the will, and the will to enact pro-business legislation with regard to unions, the unions might repair, gain genuine public support, and find their way back to productive legislation on behalf of the worker, rather than trying to run economies into the ground so that the workers, don't get any work.

I recently spoke to a person who has a sister in the post office. She was getting 16 weeks of paid vacation this year.

I work 51 weeks a year, and the buck stops at my desk.

I need unions as much as I need food poisoning.

[ohhhh]

["Wal-Mart is trying to send a message to the rest of their employees that if they join a union the same thing could happen to them," said Michael J. Fraser, the union's national director in Canada. Fraser said the union plans to file unfair labor practice charges against the chain with the Quebec Labor Relations Commission.]

And that is a good thing in my opinion. The unions have become left wing industrial destroyers who want way to much money with little work and generally suck the life out of the companies they work for. Wal Mart is smart and justified in their actions to keep union free.

[aquila48]

So where do you go to buy your sweat-shop stuff?

Even in the higher-priced stores most of the stuff is made in China - you're just paying more for it - cutting off your nose to spite your face.

[Jokelahoma]

You know, the funniest part of the whole "Made in the USA" versus "Made In China" argument is that a huge part of why stores carry items from China is cost. They're just cheaper to sell. And a large part (not the whole story, but a big part of it) of why products made in the USA are more expensive to sell is due to labor unions, and the monetary demands they make on businesses, both salary and other areas. The unions hose us coming and going.

[Paulus Invictus]

Unfair labor practices? What's that? Do they mean that if an employer does not wish to accede to all labor's demands, they are forced to do so by some liberal laws in Canuckland? Whatta place to live!

[Paulus Invictus]

Check out the most recent trade balance with China and you will see how much $$$ is sent there all the time. Much of it comes from W-M and similar companies. The latest ploy of the Chinese banks is to buy Euros and undermine the US dollar, although I don't understand their logic in the matter. I know I'm one of few Freepers that believe this to be true, but everyone should read "the China Threat" by Bill Gertz, a credible source. Scary stuff!

[lucysmom]

>Yep. Union violence will happen. It will also head south, to the USA.

Violence has not been confined to unions, business has instigated its share.

[lucysmom]

>People that feel they need to organize to get anything are unmotivated, irresponsible slackers. I've never been in a union.

I've never been a member of a union either, but I've certainly appreciated the 40 hour work week and overtime pay.

[fanfan]

Unfair labor practices? What's that? Do they mean that if an employer does not wish to accede to all labor's demands, they are forced to do so by some liberal laws in Canuckland? Whatta place to live!

It's all relative. You're better off than I am, but I'm better off than some one in Bosnia.

Wow. Sad, eh?

[mlc9852]

Unfortunately, there isn't much made in the USA any more.

[mlc9852]

Yeah, well Wal-Mart permitted the Salvation Army in front of their stores during Christmas, unlike Target. I'll take Wal-Mart over Target any day. And they have lower prices.

[Iris7]

"Unfair labor practices" are part of US Federal law, also. The National Labor Relations Act of 1934 is the big gun here, authorizing the National Labor Relations Board, and entity with 5,000 lawyers.

These lawyers, and the National Labor Relations Board itself, are all autonomous since they know labor law and precedent backwards and forwards, and are all unionized as well. Attempts have been made to make them accountable, but they have gone nowhere.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Sounds like they heeded a wake-up call. Good for them, at least they learned. I've had bosses in the past who not only didn't understand why they failed, they failed to realize that they failed. IOW, clueless.

[Edmund Burke]

These ridiculous laws such as 8 hour-day, 40 hour week, etc., should be repealed. If people want to work 12 hour days for some scrooge type employer, let them choose to do so.

[endthematrix]

"I suspect..."

On what evidence?

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Uck the Funions!

As far as the whole China vs. Made in the USA debate goes, if unions here become more reasonable then the businesses will start to come home. In a free market society companies have a right to choose a more cost-effective way to make their products if they want to stay competitive. And I do like Wal-Mart's prices.

[flying Elvis]

There are ways around that. Companies will pick off employees one by one if they hear of union talk. They usually do it by suddenly enforcing little known or previously uneforced workplace rules until they have enough infractions to get rid of the employee.

[xzins]

Wal-Mart is trying to send a message to the rest of their employees

I'd say that succeeded at just that.

I have no problem with unions and collective negotiation. I grew up in a union family and those wages provided a good livelihood....but they were wages that came from the profitability of the company and not from the union bosses.

The downside of unions is demands for practices that are counter-productive to good business management.

The upside of unions is when the company has a great team of workers that is an important part of the company's strength. When they bargain reasonably with the interests of the company at heart, then they are a force that actually helps advance the company. When you get instead idiotic rules about who can replace a lightbulb or why a malingerer cannot be fired, then they injure a company.

I dont' know why that isn't obvious.

I've always believed that the long-term best interests of many companies would actually be some kind of profit-sharing employees (based on personal productivity) rather than wage receiving employees.

[sphinx]

I recently spoke to a person who has a sister in the post office. She was getting 16 weeks of paid vacation this year.

Are you sure she didn't say six weeks?

I checked both the OPM and U.S. Postal Service webpages. At 15 years' service, the leave accrual rate goes to eight hours per pay period, or 26 days a year. (Very generous.) Add 13 sick days.

I suppose one could add the 10 federal holidays, but we're still well short of 16 weeks. I don't know what the carryover maximum is. The Post Office may allow large carryovers, which (as you know) people tend to fold into their retirement planning.

It's a very generous leave system any way you slice it, but I don't know how this person could get to 16 weeks in regular annual leave. Unless she works for the French or German postal services, which is a different thing.