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August 17, 2006
The Empire Strikes Back: Wal-Mart Reaches Out to Its Workers
Reacting to increasing pressure from outside forces that have lambasted their anti-union, wage, and labor practices, Wal-Mart has decided that it may be best to try to convince its own workers that working for the company ain't so bad.
From the Washington Post yesterday:
The world's largest retailer yesterday sent letters to its 18,000 workers in Iowa, lambasting critics and political leaders for attacking the company during a nationwide bus tour sponsored by labor unions. The move marks the first time the company has solicited support from its own employees to help polish its image and is the first step in an aggressive new campaign dubbed the Voter Education Program.
"We would never suggest to you how to vote, but we have an obligation to tell you when politicians are saying something about your company that isn't true," wrote Tom Underwood, regional general manager.
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"We want our associates to be aware of the misguided attacks that are occurring . . . by elected officials playing politics with our company," said Dan Fogleman, a Wal-Mart spokesman. "We think elected officials should spend their time on real solutions to real challenges."
Two quick questions: 1) Why is this "playing politics" and why shouldn't politicians care if a large number of employees are potentially being treated unfairly be their employers? Isn't this a "real challenge" for politicians to address? 2) In what ways are the union attacks against Wal-Mart "misguided" and "not true"? At least in the parts of the letter quoted by the Post, there is no direct justification by Wal-Mart of their wage and labor policies.
Wal-Mart's current tact does not strike me as an effort by an employer really interested in trying to reach out to its employees, but rather reminds me of a rather large animal trapped in a corner with its claws out.
PS
August 17, 2006 in Labor and Employment News | Permalink
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Comments
Here are two quick follow-up questions (actually, more than two): (1) Do you really think these politicians are concerned about Wal Mart employees being "potentially treated unfairly?" (Whatever that might mean). Or do you think maybe they are interested in being re-elected, interested in pandering to union voters, and feel that a huge company like Wal Mart is a safe and easy target? (2) Why do you assume the union attacks are NOT "misguided" and/or "untrue?" There are certainly not enough facts in the article you cite to determine one way or the other. The article fails to quote either the union statements or the Wal Mart statements in their entirety. Your qualifier about how, "at least in the parts of the letter quoted by the Post" there is no justification, is ridiculously unfair.
And as far as comparing Wal Mart to a trapped animal, is Wal Mart not entitled to defend itself from what it perceives to be unfair accusations? Why aren't the union and the politicians in this instance compared to "revenous hyenas, attacking their prey?"
If you think Wal Mart is evil, just say so. But using shoddy journalistic efforts like this Post article as purported justification for your opinions is just silly, and leads readers to question whether your comments on other employment law matters should be taken seriously.
Publius.
Posted by: Publius | Aug 19, 2006 1:03:49 PM
On the flip side, if, as the article suggests, Wal-Mart began its campaign by targeting employees in Iowa, could it perhaps be Wal-Mart management that's playing politics on a grander scale? Being a former Iowan, I have to say that the only time that Iowa is targeted, it's related to a presidential election (that first caucus rearing its ugly head), or someone is looking to make fun of an easy target, and Iowa is iconic for the simple, solid, midwestern ethic.
Posted by: Marcia McCormick | Aug 24, 2006 11:44:40 AM
