NYT: Workers Assail Night Lock-Ins By Wal-Mart

[Omaha Steve]

This was before I joined the DU. It came up on something today so I thought I'd post it. My son used to get locked in overnight at a competitor.

OS

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/18/us/workers-assail-night-lock-ins-by-wal-mart.html

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE
Published: January 18, 2004

Looking back to that night, Michael Rodriguez still has trouble believing the situation he faced when he was stocking shelves on the overnight shift at the Sam's Club in Corpus Christi, Tex.

It was 3 a.m., Mr. Rodriguez recalled, some heavy machinery had just smashed into his ankle, and he had no idea how he would get to the hospital.

The Sam's Club, a Wal-Mart subsidiary, had locked its overnight workers in, as it always did, to keep robbers out and, as some managers say, to prevent employee theft. As usual, there was no manager with a key to let Mr. Rodriguez out. The fire exit, he said, was hardly an option -- management had drummed into the overnight workers that if they ever used that exit for anything but a fire, they would lose their jobs.

''My ankle was crushed,'' Mr. Rodriguez said, explaining he had been struck by an electronic cart driven by an employee moving stacks of merchandise. ''I was yelling and running around like a hurt dog that had been hit by a car. Another worker made some phone calls to reach a manager, and it took an hour for someone to get there and unlock the door.''

FULL story at link.

[silverweb]

1. There are times...

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]There are times you just have to say, "Fuck the rules," and do what you have to do.

A medical emergency is every bit as urgent as a fire. Use the damn fire exit in such a situation and sue their asses off if they try to penalize for it!

[JesterCS]

2. isn't that against Fire codes? n/t

[Sherman A1]

3. There should never, ever

be a situation where there is not a person with a key available. In this case Wal Mart created through it's policies a clear and present danger. They should be investigated and charged with whatever and all criminal actions that apply. I would also suggest that the individual secure a lawyer and proceed with a civil action.

[NewDeal_Dem]

4. +100

[Cha]

5. Really.

[ChosenUnWisely]

6. Mr. Rodriguez should have taken the heavy machine and drove it through a door or wall

in order to get out of the building.

People need to learn to stand for themselves and fight back.

People Stop living life in fear!

On the other hand Mr Rodrigues is also not part of a union and I would guess by choice too because he choose to work for Sam Club/Wal Mart, so in a way he accepted the working conditions in exchange for money and he should not be complaining either.

If workers don't want to be abused they should unionize!