Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Wal-Mart accused of 'climate of fear'

Wal-Mart accused of 'climate of fear' WASHINGTON, April 30 (UPI) --

Wal-Mart violates the basic rights of its employees through exploitation of "weak" U.S. labor laws, Human Rights Watch says.

In a 210-page report Monday, the largest U.S. retailer was accused of creating "a climate of fear" through a "relentless anti-union drumbeat" at its stores.

"Wal-Mart workers have virtually no chance to organize because they're up against unfair U.S. labor laws and a giant company that will do just about anything to keep unions out," said Carol Pier, a Human Rights Watch senior researcher.

The report said its investigators found in most cases Wal-Mart begins to indoctrinate workers and managers to oppose unions from the moment they are hired.

All efforts to organize among the company's 1.3 million employees in the United States are immediately squashed, it charged.

The group urged Wal-Mart to stop its alleged anti-union activity and called on Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act to protect workers' rights.

Check out the article as the Washington Post reported. Wal-Mart claims its employees have rejected unionization because they have "every opportunity to express their ideas, comments and concerns." Which is couldn't be further than the truth...How about Wal-Mart closing down a store when a union is voted in? The truth is if Wal-Mart became union employees would be better off, communities would be better off and this never ending debate could be over.

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