Activists Demand Investigation of Wal-Mart's Pro-McCain Policy
By Joel Wendland
Union activists affiliated with the WakeUpWalMart.com campaign circulated a petition this week via e-mail demanding the Federal Election Commission investigate whether Wal-Mart has violated federal election laws. The multinational corporation, the campaign pointed out, may have broken the law when it held mandatory meetings for many of its employees this summer that appeared to "to intimidate rank-and-file employees into voting Republican."
Last week, an article in the Wall Street Journal revealed that Wal-Mart held mandatory meetings to convince employees that a Democratic victory would mean that Wal-Mart employees might have an easier chance of unionizing Wal-Mart stores and outlets.
Specifically, Wal-Mart told its employees, according to the article, that a Democratic victory will usher in the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. The Employee Free Choice Act has already passed in the US House and would remove barriers faced by workers who want to join labor unions.
The bill essentially imposes heavier sanctions against employers who use illegal threats and harassment to prevent workers from exercising their right to join a union.
Wal-Mart has fought for decades against labor union organizing in its stores. A recent e-mail alert from another organization, Wal-Mart Watch, said, "With weakened workers' rights, Wal-Mart can bully its employees to skip breaks and work 'off the clock' for no pay."
http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7225/