Walmart Mobilizing Employees Against Obama Campaign

[Median Democrat]

Wow, the Right Wing is increasingly dropping any pretence, and going after the Democrats. First, we have Big Media. Second, we have extremist like James Dobson cherry picking biblical quotes to say that Obama is out of touch by preaching social justice as consistent with Christianity. Third, we have Walmart mobilizing its workforce against the Democrats. I have to say, the Democrats are the underdogs in this election, unless Democrats are willing to volunteer to overcome the GOP's structural advantages:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121755649066303381.html

/snip

Wal-Mart Warns of Democratic Win
By ANN ZIMMERMAN and KRIS MAHER
August 1, 2008; Page A1

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is mobilizing its store managers and department supervisors around the country to warn that if Democrats win power in November, they'll likely change federal law to make it easier for workers to unionize companies -- including Wal-Mart.

In recent weeks, thousands of Wal-Mart store managers and department heads have been summoned to mandatory meetings at which the retailer stresses the downside for workers if stores were to be unionized.

According to about a dozen Wal-Mart employees who attended such meetings in seven states, Wal-Mart executives claim that employees at unionized stores would have to pay hefty union dues while getting nothing in return, and may have to go on strike without compensation. Also, unionization could mean fewer jobs as labor costs rise.

/snip

[americanstranger]

1. Wow. they must be scared to death of an Obama presidency.

Might mean the end of their anti-union gravy train.

- as

[Median Democrat]

2. What is the Fair Market Value Of That In-Kind Campaign Contribution?

Likewise, if someone were to count all the times McCain's commericials are played for free on Fox News versus the number of times Obama's commericials are played what is the fair market value of this air play?

Big Media loves to tout Obama's fundraising, but this largely obscures the billions of dollars of unreported in-kind contributions that McCain receives from Fox News and other Big Media outlets in the form of free airplay of his campaign commercials with only cursory analysis.

[Skidmore]

3. They can mobilize and threaten all they want, but

store managers can't go into the voting booth with these people.

[Andy823]

4. That's right

And if they "threaten" employes, it will backfire on them. Nobody likes to be threatened, and when they are threatened, they will fight back in the voting booth. Every big corporation in this country wants McCain to win, and they are afraid of what will happen if Obama does win. It's not just Walmart, but every big corporation that has been screwing over their employes since Bush took office that are afraid, and will try anything to prevent their workers from voting for Obama, but as you said, it stops at the voting booth!

[Alter Ego]

5. If Wal-Mart is trying to tell their employees that voting Obama in

will allow them to have more rights within the corporation in the hope that it will dissuade them, they are dumber than dogshit.

I'd love to see a "Wal-Mart Employees For Barack" rally.

[Median Democrat]

6. Walmart Specifically Screens Employees For Compliance

There is a reason why Walmart administers psych tests to its employees, and why they have been so effective in resisting unionization.

[MonteLukast]

7. Just as long as they can't find out who anybody voted for. (nm)

[Brigid]

19. I think this explains why . . .

I never heard anything back on my job application there. I can actually read.

[Thrill]

8. Why the hell would the employees, not want someone who will let them have a union?

[rockymountaindem]

11. Because they're being told that unions are bad for workers n/t

[wordpix]

12. Fearmongering, as in "if a union causes wages to rise/better benefits, poor Walmart will be forced

to cut your jobs."

[Median Democrat]

13. Nation Article Regarding Walmart's Anti-Union Efforts

I can understand why Walmart might think it can successfully direct its thousands of employees not to vote for Barack Obama. It has already screened out activist types.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20040628/featherstone

/snip

It would be difficult to exaggerate the magnitude of this challenge. Wal-Mart's rhetoric is supported by diligent practice. The company screens out potential union supporters through its hiring process: In addition to excluding those with union histories, the company also administers personality tests to weed out those likely to be sympathetic to unions, and offers managers tips on how to spot such people.

The same handbook, which was given to management in a Wal-Mart distribution center in Greencastle, Indiana, urged managers to be wary of certain union-friendly types, including "the Cause-Oriented Associate," who in high school "led demonstrations against everything from 'red dye' to 'ban the bomb.' He once took a trip to India to visit his personal 'guru.'" Managers are also encouraged to avoid the "Overly-Qualified Associate...a Ph.D operating a grinding machine or a former accountant sweeping the floor.... This type of associate includes the associate who has formerly made substantially more money with other employers."

/snip

[MonteLukast]

15. My SO told me another interesting tidbit about Wal-Mart...

(I haven't even set foot in one since 2003, so I don't know firsthand.)

He was telling me about the serious dearth of good books there! Not just Jon Stewart and George Carlin's books being banned-- books, period were in pretty skimpy supply unless they were empty-calorie "spirituals", Harlequin romances, paperback bestsellers, etc. He said how much better Target was at books.

I think Wal-Mart is trying to promote aliteracy... catering to the kind of people who don't want to read. And you all know how THEY tend to vote.

[zbdent]

9. A few months ago, I was wondering who the Righties were trying to smear ...

Hillary Clinton, for her ties to Wal-Mart, or Wal-Mart, for their ties to Hillary?

[auburngrad82]

10. I cancelled my Sam's Club membership

I'll go to Costco and BJ's.

[DemocracyInaction]

14. FATAL---ha, ha, ha

As one talking head put it the other day (can't remember which one and she almost blurted out that many Americans are morons)---(paraphrased): This will wake up and galvanize Unions. If they had no clue what the diffences where between the parties before, they sure do now!!!

[AtomicKitten]

16. How stupid does one have to be to vote against their own self-interests?

[Brigid]

18. It's not that hard to do.

Just scare them half to death. In this case, put them in fear for their crappy jobs. The Repugs have been doing this for years.

[ericgtr]

17. These people make unions look like saints

If ever there is was a case for oversight and regulation, Walmart makes it.