The Best and the Worst about Wal-Mart

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Loveland, CO Vote

UPDATE: Rejected 17-1 boasts press release!

In an election held today at the Loveland, Colorado store, 18 associates who work in the Tire and Lube Express department cast their votes in a democratic, secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board....

Today's vote in Loveland resulted in 17 votes for the associates and Wal-Mart and only 1 vote for the UFCW. Over the last 2 weeks, 34 Tire and Lube Express associates have voted to reject the union.

It's rather clear who was the yes vote. Reuters recaps only the basics.

The UFCW responds:

United Food and Commercial Workers spokesman Dave Minshall said the group will ask the National Labor Relations Board to throw the results out, saying no union member was allowed to observe the election and Wal-Mart added employees to the unit to dilute the strength of the union supporters.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spokeswoman Christi Gallagher said the union was offered an opportunity to provide a substitute observer but could not find one. She said any workers added to the operation were a response to business needs and not part of an anti-union effort.

Minshall said workers had been subjected to intimidation and harassment before the vote. Josh Noble, a tire shop worker who said he voted in favor of the UFCW, said he had been harassed by other Wal-Mart employees and that managers "kind of blew it off" when he reported one incident.

"It's fear that won this election for Wal-Mart," Minshall said.

Earlier... Here's how Big Media prepared for today's vote to unionize WM's Loveland, CO Supercenter Tire & Lube employees. CNN/Money reports it quick and dirty:

Workers at the Loveland, Colo., Wal-Mart Tire & Lube Express are expected to vote Friday on representation by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union in an ongoing battle to unionize.

The department's 20 employees won approval from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in January to hold the election, which could make the workers at the Loveland store the first union workers at the world's biggest retailer.

However, the WaPo takes one person's views as a "cross section" of consumer sentiment:

A cross-section of customers suggested that they could tolerate whatever price increases might follow from unionization.

"I come here really for the selection, not the prices," said Paula Emly of Windsor, Colo., who bought two bedspreads Thursday. "A place that has this many employees, I mean, there ought to be a union here. I don't think it would raise prices much."

Astonishing. As if her belief about price effects of unionization is any more informed than mine or yours...

The Denver Post gives us a profile of Joshua Noble, and some very relevant details about the composition of the 20 voters:

In Loveland, nine of the department's 17 workers in November signed cards calling for a union vote. Since then, two have left to attend college and a third was fired. As many as six new workers were brought in, Noble and the union said.

Those workers could skew the vote in favor of the retail giant, which has historically fought unionization efforts. A Wal-Mart spokeswoman would not confirm the changes.

Mr. Noble explains that his unfortunate medical condition takes much of his income, and has taken him away from work:

Noble hasn't been at work since late January. A seizure disorder has kept him out on medical leave. He expects to return to work March 6. Late last year, Noble missed time from work after being in a car accident.

Noble's medical issues have also motivated him to lead the charge for unionization.

He moved back in with his parents so he could catch up on his medical bills. His health insurance and medications eat up a big chunk of his take-home pay, prompting his belief that the company should improve its wages and benefits.

And the Times-Call group discusses the recent rally attended by ~200 in support of the union:

Nearly 200 people marched Wednesday evening to the Loveland Wal-Mart Supercenter, chanting: “Together! Together! We’re all in this together!” and “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!”

No, you want money. That's fine, but these slogans are so tiring. Mr. Noble's description of the anti-union folks that descended on Loveland is colorful but probably more or less accurate:

However, Wal-Mart executives are doing all they can to sway the vote, he said. Wal-Mart officials from Bentonville, Ark. — what Noble refers to as the Wal-Mart “anti-union SWAT team” — visit the store four days a week to “brainwash” employees against unions, he said.

I'd like to see their brainwashing videos.

Posted by Kevin on February, 25 2005 at 11:07 AM | TrackBack