Posted on 04/13/2005 9:16:53 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The largest U.S. grocery union has filed a complaint against Wal-Mart Stores Inc., asking the National Labor Relations Board to investigate whether the retailer "bribed" employees to block union activities.
The United Food and Commercial Workers' complaint comes after The Wall Street Journal reported last week that former Wal-Mart Vice Chairman Tom Coughlin may have used undocumented expense payments to fund anti-union activities, including paying union staffers to tell him of pro-union workers in stores.
The union said its complaint, filed on Tuesday, asks the NLRB to "aggressively investigate whether Wal-Mart bribed employees to suppress worker support for union representation."
Shares of Wal-Mart, which have fallen about 6 percent in the past month, edged up 0.5 percent after Prudential Equity Group raised its rating on the stock to "neutral weight" from "underweight."
"Wal-Mart's actions seemingly involved the criminal misappropriation of company funds to create an illegal anti-union slush fund," the union said in a statement.
The union wants the NLRB to subpoena any documents from Wal-Mart that might substantiate those charges.
A Wal-Mart spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment. The retailer has previously said it investigated the allegation of payments to union representatives and found no evidence to support it.
In a letter to the NLRB accompanying the complaint, the union said it suspected that Wal-Mart "spread bribes in stores whose workers were actively organizing but abruptly abandoned their activity" in 13 U.S. states.
Wal-Mart is the largest U.S. private employer with more than 1.2 million employees. The company has repeatedly said its policy of open communication with employees means there is no need for a union, but labor groups contend the retailer is vehemently anti-union.
Having been a Union employee and watched 30% of a workforce ride on the backs of the productive 70%, I have no time for them.
"Wal-Mart Vice Chairman Tom Coughlin may have used undocumented expense payments to fund anti-union activities, including paying union staffers to tell him of pro-union workers in stores."
Even if true, this is an indictment of the unions more than Wal-mart. The union staffers take money to work against the people they are supposed to be working for.
Unions are another disease this country has that needs to be eradicated. They are nothing but foundations FOR EXTORTION FROM BUSINESSES....
Oh my....why, I've never heard of a union passing out bribes or keeping slush funds...../sarc
Lots of "may haves" in the article. I note, however, not a shred of evidence to back up the accusations.
It's true. Unions spend as much as 80% of the union dues on their agendas, rather than on collective bargaining or other employee need expenditures as it relates to the worker. Wal-Mart is the PRIZE, as with all of its employees, the union would have a budgetary increase from dues that would easily triple (or more)its size and power.
So if Wal-Mart 'bribed' them with good pay not to abandon ship, I say no foul.
If I have any problems I can speak to anyone in store management about it instead of having my hand held by some goon who also gets some of my paycheck.
These unions are just like crack addicts when it comes to Wal-Mart, scouring the floor in an abandoned building looking for anything remotely resembling coke to put in their pipes.
An issue at hand...when unions require mandatory dues, then spend the roceeds on their agendas, rather than on worker related matters, such as collective bargaining, then the worker pays for something thqat he may or may not agree with. I am sure that the great PRIZE known as Wal-mart will be pursued like the seven cities of gold by the union. My Mom worked at Wal-Mart for 15 years. She liked them as an employer, and now has stock that has grown in value since her retirement.
Looks like FR is improving on Wal-Mart threads.
"whether the retailer "bribed" employees to block union activities"
Would the union have objected if WalMart had just threatened to break their legs??
Tis early, friend. Just wait.
I work in a union too, but where I'm at, it more like 50% riding on the backs of the other 50%. It's disgusting.
So, this is like the DNC taking money from the Chicoms.
Wow, true believers can be (are always) bought.
The leftists hate Walmart because they are a big donor to the Republican Party. They won't stop villainizing them until they start giving to the DNC. And Reuters is glad to help.
You never get this kind of story about Costco.
So the union is asking NLRB to go on a fishing expedition for them?
That doesn't surprise me, at all. Pathetic, isn't it?
And, I bet there are people who are far better at the job who are held back, because of "seniority."
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