WalMart Strides Into Election Fray (urging workers to vote against Dems)

'Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest employer, is planning to launch a voter registration and education campaign this fall targeted at its 1.3 million employees in an effort to combat growing criticism from Democrats and labor unions.

By doing so, the world’s largest retailer is striding into the national political arena, which until this election cycle it has taken pains to avoid.

Wal-Mart’s voter registration and education programs could be among the biggest in the country, though not as big as those of its labor union opponents. The AFL-CIO, for example, has nearly 13 million members.'


http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/091906/walmart.html

The last thing Wal-mart should want is an educated voting force.

The work force won't be educated. They'll be indoctrinated.

Wal-Mart will get most of these lower income workers to vote Republican. The voting pattern of red states is evidence lower incomes will vote against their own interests, increasing their portion of the federal debt and reducing government services, healthcare, education, etc.

I dont thnk I would do ANYTHING they told me too outside the workplace...period.

involved..stickly indoctrinated.

they will vote however they are led. Fox, Walmart, fundy churches--it doesn't matter.

I do. People that work there aren't just idiots that don't know any better, they are people who can't find better jobs, or don't know how to look, people who have to settle for a shit job to feed themselves (and many, to feed their children.)

Some of them may vote R, but it has nothing to do with who they work for.

I mean, idiots? I bet a substantial majority of them will vote for whoever the brass at Wal*Mart doesn't like. They'd vote in a union, but they're afraid their store would close.

go to Wal-Marts all over and picket them--"Wal-Marts supports Republican Pedophiles" "Boycott Wal-Mart--Supporters of Republican Pedophiles"...boycott, boycott, boycott...I've stopped shopping at Wal-Mart many years ago...

I'd be voting against them! Hell, I would be CAMPAINGING against them!

methinks they will wind up empowering more dems than they think...

I do anyway...

I have family and friends who are Dems who think nothing of stopping off at wal mart to buy shit.

I'm going to be sending this link in an email to them.

...but now I may be convinced to "shop" (wonder through the isles while buying nothing) while wearing a tee-shirt that brings awareness to wal-mart employees & shoppers.

Maybe the tee-shirt should say, "Union workers doing the same work make double what you do and have medical benifits", or "Republicans give tax cuts to the rich so that you can work your ass off for a crappy salery."

Pick out the things you'd like to have. Push that overfilled cart up to the front, show the manager a copy of the article linked in the post above, and simply say, "this is what Wal-Mart's political activity cost you today." then calmly walk out...but give a nod ot the greeter.

I'm going to do that every couple of days until the election...

Jumping from WalMart to WalMart of course.

Nothing like 300+ disparate things for their restockers to put away every trip.

Brilliant!

A few years ago, bush came to a rally in my city really close to the election. They held an event in a public park but it was not open to the public. People had to have a ticket, but even people with tickets were turned away if they had Kerry shirts on. The city, since it was a private event, was supposed to get money for the event, but none ever came from the bush campaign.

A used car lot/Budget rental place had a sign up that said the following:
"Republican parking $5, Democrat parking $10."

I was pissed. When I later shopped for a car, I went to the dealership and was working with the owner manager. I walked the lot, test drove a car, began negotiations. At decision time, I said I didn't appreciate the sign they put up the previous fall...after all Democrats buy cars too. I walked out.

Want to be a republican? Fine, but lets have fair treatment and cordiality when possible. After all, Democrats buy cars, groceries, insurance, etc. If people that run businesses hate Democrats so much, refuse our business. Make it public so we know to go elsewhere.

Organize...We can tie up a whole sales floor at an anti-Democratic business with nagging questions about products, etc. We need to teach lessons.

Make more work for the grunts on the floor when your target is head office. It's always nice to see that you can direct your anger to the proper place and that nothing works like using the shotgun approach on people who are already overworked.

enjoying their day. It is Wal-Mart, they are going to have to do something while on the clock.

More work for the grunts, eh. Then why don't they organize? Why don't they work ANYWHERE else? I've worked for places that I came to consider despicable retail outlets and I was NEVER asked to work off the clock. Had I been asked, I would have reported them. It is not like a job at Wal-Mart is the greatest thing ever. Hell, my local McDonalds pays more and at least they have a record of charitable giving.

Perhaps your real point is that Wal-Mart employees should be more empowered to change those things they cannot accept. On that we agree.

and then go put everything back yourself? 'Cause otherwise the low-paid Wally WageSlave has to do it. As they're overworked as it is, I can't imagine they'd be too happy to hear your message.

done at Wall-Mart. People either leave the work undone and go home when their shift is over, or if they are forced to stay, perhaps they will get mad, unionize, get better wages and benefits, and save the world.

I think you're being awfully cavalier with other people's workdays/duties.

Try to put yourself in a Walmart worker's shoes: she has to take that damn cart all around the store and restock the items. This might be an hour or two's work, probably on top of an already long day. Probably they will not pay her overtime unless she complains, and then she's pegged as a troublemaker, at risk of losing her job. Whatever you think of Walmart's employee relations, that worker probably isn't going to think to get mad at Walmart first--she'll get mad at your privileged ass for making her stay late to restock your "statement."

Personally, I think those of us that can should start infiltrating WalMart and change it from within.

it's not like having to restock items is some sort of punishment, or special assignment.

people are ASSIGNED to restock items as part of their everyday job assignment. they don't have to stay after work, unpaid, to do this, as you imply

they don't care....they work in a fricking STORE! what else are they going to do? quantum physics?

There are reports that Walmart workers are forced to work off the clock, not paid OT, and in many cases short-staffed so that "assigned to restock items" means an extra hour or two, likely unpaid, on the worker's day. Do you not read threads about WalMart on DU?

It's only a silly argument if you don't give a flying fuck about the average low-wage worker.

B/c while republicans have been promising/threatening the former, they've been delivering the latter.

...for different reasons but to the same result.

I don't shop there anyway so fuck them...

disappear off the face of the planet all I could or would say is BFD.

They're the largest employer in the nation.

self-removed.

...when they don't have health care, don't have unions and don't get overtime then they deserve what they get....

I've never spent a dime in that flea market, and never will. Fuck Wal-Mart forever!

They just gave me a reason to NEVER go near their stores again. I don't care if it's the last place on Earth to shop.

and its anti-American policies, perhaps this will be it.

I am proud to say that I rarely shop at Wal-Mart. In fact, I haven't set foot in one for several years, and in the ten years prior to that you could count the visits on one hand.

the people they're trying to convince probably won't buy into it.

one of many available links: http://www.amhersttimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2951&Itemid=27

and that folks working at Walmart need every dime................I wouldn't be shocked if a big bunch vote repug thinking it will help save their jobs.

Not that all WM employees are undereducated but......certainly this is not a good thing! In fact is it legal????????????????????????????????????????????

I don't know even ONE happy or satisfiedcurrent or former WM employee! Some of them are even ex supervisors andstore managers, and they ALL detest that Company!

Unless they've found a way to threated them with job loss, this won't work!

on the virtues of fat fried food.

There is a reference to a mailing made in Iowa back in 2004, but that's unrelated to the voter registration program?

Do you think its bad that they set up a voter registration program?

however I do have a problem with a voter education program being led by WalMart

'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,” Wal-Mart stated in its August letter, according to a report by the Associated Press. “We urge you to talk with your friends, your family and your neighbors about the good Wal-Mart does.”'

I interpret this to mean that WalMart, in not so many words, will basically call the dems who criticize their company's practices a bunch of liars.

The first I learned of this was an NPR piece this morning, in which Newt Gingrich(of all people) was singing praises for the new program. He made it clear that WalMart was going to promote pro-business candidates and encourage their employees to vote for those candidates. The piece from the Hill doesn't put it quite in those terms, but I think WalMart's intentions are pretty clear.

about the good Wal-Mart does", the conversation will soon turn to the crappy, nasty rotten things that Wal-Mart does. I'd like to be a fly on the wall for some of those conversations. Haha! I think this will have some unintended consequences for Wal-Mart and its miserly stingy owners.

From the article:

...in an effort to combat growing criticism from Democrats and labor unions.

The company’s decision appears to be a response to several high-profile Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and four 2008 Democratic presidential hopefuls, who participated in a labor-organized anti-Wal-Mart campaign this summer.


The article also goes into how Wal-Mart is going to use the campaigning to counter Democrats' calls for reforming the company.

Wal-Mart responded to criticism from Democratic presidential hopefuls by rebutting them in letters to 18,000 Iowa employees.

“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,” Wal-Mart stated in its August letter, according to a report by the Associated Press. “We urge you to talk with your friends, your family and your neighbors about the good Wal-Mart does.”

Wal-Mart also sent letters to staff in other presidential primary states such as New Hampshire and South Carolina, said Paul Blank, campaign director for WakeUpWalMart.com.

what the "education campaign" is all about.....

and not surprised to hear their allegiance to the GOP.

Wal-Mart will find itself with alot of trouble should the Democrats regain power.

...(approving the move obviously ) and OF COURSE its to sway the employees against the Dems and liberal ideas. This is indoctrination, since the GOP can't win on real issues for the people, they must brainwash and indoctrinate enabler minions to keep the Wal Mart evil empire powerful and oppressive.

I think it's pretty dangerous and scary myself.

I heard that too, about "all the good that Wal Mart does for our country....by lifting 28,000 Chinese a month out of poverty by selling their goods"

I know his face was not straight when he spewed that

and then tell them who to vote for? Who are those boneheads kidding!!!? How stupid repugs are!

'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,” Wal-Mart stated in its August letter, according to a report by the Associated Press. “We urge you to talk with your friends, your family and your neighbors about the good Wal-Mart does.”'

I see nothing in that to indicate that Wal-Mart is suggesting to its employees that they vote against Democrats. Indeed Wal-Mart is making it easier for its employees to vote, giving them paid time off to do so.

There is a concerted effort by union organizers to attack Wal-Mart because they are not unionized. That is what we are seeing here in threads like this one. Whatever you may think about unions, it is blatantly unfair to ascribe such ulterior motives to Wal-Mart in urging its employees to register and vote.

The fact is that Wal-Mart has done a lot of good by providing thousands of jobs for people who would otherwise be unemployed. I am not ashamed to say that I shop there all the time. Other than that, I have no other ties to Wal-Mart. I am simply arguing that we treat them fairly.

Confessions of a Wal-Mart Hit Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mQH9DloKD8



Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices

http://www.walmartmovie.com/

it's employees to become more "educated" about issues, then I'll applaud their efforts. An educated voter would vote democratic every time. It's the uneducated voters that have allowed the republicans to retain power.

is from an entirely pro-business, pro-globalization point of view. Hell, who needs lobbyists when one can mobilize the largest work force paid by one single company in the US?

with their work applications.

We are subsidizing the stock holders of Wal Mart.

Treating them fairly would be require them to pay living wages. Get real.

Others provided links to certain things about Wal-Mart, here's a personal perspective:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2951993

Note, its NOT a choice between being unemployed or working at Wal-Mart until AFTER they move into town.

Bash 'em all you want. I won't shop there. Or at any store in their parking lot.

That company is a cancer on this country.

Or is my irony meter broken again? I actually believed another post that parodied the announcement by saying Wal-Mart was hiring Rush Limbaugh...

You know, China, the place that doesn't allow free worship, free speech? You know, the country that violently took over Tibet? The country that is polluting the entire planet? The country where the poor are being forced from their homes, and killed if they resist, so that new buildings and factories are built?

Yes.. thanks GOD for Walmart... the place that employs SOOO many people in shit wage jobs with no health benefits, and THEN has the NERVE to push their own workers to vote against the party that ACTUALLY gives a shit that they DON'T have health care! If Walmart employees are stupid enough to do it, then they deserve no health care.

take the time to learn what Wal-Mart is all about.

to address their employees, I'll give 'em a pass for other activities meant to support their business.

:puke:

Anything for a buck.

ask mark foley.

I don't think so.

Is the executive branch going to do anything about it?

About as much as they did about election fraud in Florida in 2000 or in Ohio in 2004.

I'm no election or employment scholar, but I believe it's legal unless they refuse promotions to those who don't share their view, or are open about their own political views.

At that point, it becomes a violation of equal employment law. Because WalMart is a for-profit company, their only requirement in this regard is to abide by the EEOC. Of course, with the allegations against them already that have been dragged out forever, I think it's safe to assume that it would take years to successfully prove a case of discrimination and have it fully adjudicated.

in fact, they already have, however, they CANNOT ask for their employees' political views, and neither can they demand that employees vote a certain way, threatening retaliation. Now the question is, will they try to do that anyways? Who knows, they have been operating outside the law for so long, it wouldn't surprise me.

...and that we will treat THEM fairly when they start treating their employees fairly, and the communities they foist themselves upon. I haven't shopped there in 2 years. I discouraged my friends and family from shopping there and most of them don't anymore.

Mal-Wart needs to be put out of business.

Big boss man, can't you hear me when I call
Big boss man, can't you hear me when I call
Well you ain't so big, you just tall that's just about all

Wal Mart tells its 1.3 Million employees not to vote Democrat?

COOL! Free Campaign ad for us!

The corporation has donated $1.7M to candidates, 78% to Republicans. That doesn't sound like they've avoided politics. It should also be understood that despite whatever high-minded reasons Wal-Mart may offer, it is a corporation and corporations are legally bound to act only in their financial self-interest.

spent a dime in any of their stores for about 5 years now.

At some point they WILL bite the dust, simply because that is the natural order of things. There was a time when "Sears Roebuck," as it was called when I was a kid, was the biggest dude on the block--every fall their Christmas Wishbook was a treasure trove of wishful fantasies of Christmas, and my mother spent zillions every year on our school clothes from them. They were the first and the best with mail order merchandising. It was inconceivable that they would dwindle down to their present ho-hum so-so status, but that did happen when the next big player--WM--showed up and outcompeted them with their greedhead moves. Woolworth's also used to be a big shot. Are there even any Woolworth's around any more?

With each turn of the wheel, WalMart's demise gets closer. They help to slit their own throat with dumb moves like this one, on the heels of cutting their full-time workers and replacing them with even more part-time and benefitless workers who have WAGE CAPS! The fights against new WalMarts by neighborhood organizations are more and more well-known and successful, and I believe they are being successfully fought off in many countries around the world in the international backlash against globalization.

however, here in the U.S, you now know them as "Foot Locker"! Woolworth-branded stores are still alive and kicking in other parts of the world, however. I actually worked at one back in 1983, when I was still in college, on a part-time basis for extra cash. The store was clearly on its last legs at that point, and didn't survive much longer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.W._Woolworth_Company

Register! Vote! And while you're at it, just go ahead and check off all the "R's" on your ballot! Don't let those big bad unions take any brash unnecessary steps to increase your paltry wages, or make your health care more affordable! That's a nice cooperative complicit employee, now get the f*** back to work!

When that happens Minimum wages will be on the table.

to convince poor people to vote republican. How noble.

And by golly, my wife is now on board.

Voting is the last thing on the mind of most wal-Mart workers I've ever known. Hell, most of them probably don't even know it's an election year. No offense, just that the poor usually have bigger fish to fry and are most often distracted...

The same could probably be said about you if anyone were so inclined, given your nationality. That 50% turnout reflects everyone.

Perhaps you'll think next time you utter a blanket classist slur.

How many Wal Mart workers do YOU know that vote? I'm sorry, the ones I KNOW DON'T. The ones I know could care less about politics, and they actually think all politicians are SCUMBAGS. I wonder why.

Most of the eligible staff did, actually, everyone that I spoke to except for four people. Employers here have to give you time off to vote if you work during the day.

You wonder why? Republicans use them treat them like crap. Democrats like you slur them and look down your noses. "I wonder why" indeed.

The poor usually don't give a rats ass about politics. They probably take a more realistic view than most people who actually give a damn. They don't trust any politician because politicians lie.

I was fortunate enough to grow up in a family that cared and voted. This is probably why I am as active and vocal as I am. But for the majority of poor in this country, no employer, nor any party, democrat, republican, or green, or whatever, will make them passionate about politics, particularly given the relative level of comfort our poor experience given the history of civilization on planet earth.

It only took 30 years of civil war and tens of millions dead from violence and famine for the poor to rise up in China to support the communists.

closer to home, the Great Depression certainly mobilized the poor during the 30's.

There is no great issue, welfare, nor heathcare, nor employment, nor education, nor the war, that is causing enough pain and suffering as to result in any uprising of political activity. This is actually a sign of relative peace and stability in our civilization.. as the level of comfort will usually determine the level of political involvement of the populace..

Most people whom I know working at wal Mart are at least happy to be employed... an these are the people working at night stocking shelves and the like. No one with any knowledge of "home offices" or really any knowledge whatsoever of how the business is actually run.. (in other words, the vast majority of Wal-Mart employees looking for one thing and one thing only: a paycheck).

I would likely vote the opposite.

18 rich families pay for campaign to kill estate taxes
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Sabrina Eaton
Plain Dealer Bureau
Washington -- Eighteen of America's wealthiest families, including the Timkens of Canton, are bankrolling efforts to permanently repeal estate taxes that would save their families a total of $71.6 billion, according to a report released Tuesday by public interest groups.

Groups funded by the super-rich have engaged in a deceptive campaign to convince the public that estate taxes cause widespread problems for small businesses and family farms when they actually affect about one in 370 estates, said the report released by Public Citizen and Boston-based United for a Fair Economy.

This year, all assets under $2 million for individuals and under $4 million for couples are exempt from estate taxes. Current tax law will boost those exemptions to $3.5 million and $7 million in 2009, eliminate the estate tax in 2010, and reimpose it in 2011 with a $1 million exemption.

The House voted to permanently repeal the estate tax last year, but the measure stalled in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to override filibusters. Majority Leader Bill Frist says he will bring the bill up in May.

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1146040565219270.xml&coll=2">--more--

List includes:
Timkens of Canton
Wal-Mart
Gallo wineries
Nordstrom's department stores
Wegman's grocery stores
the Mars candy company
Cox media chain
Campbell Soup Co.

So they have a vested interest in voting against Democrats...

had 3 registers open and lines 20 people long. 30 registers available but only 3 open. www.buyblue.org

that the workers aren't stupid. Having worked on the Canadian side (better working conditions) for a long time and recently left, most of the workers are even more aware than you are of all the things the company is trying to pull, and the situation has deteriorated in the past three years such that most of the people who can leave are leaving.

None of us gave a shit what home office says once we leave the building. Most of us didn't give a shit what home office says even when we were on the clock. There's nothing but antipathy there for MBAs who haven't ever worked a sales floor or haven't done so in thirty years. Most of the propaganda they stuff in the pay stub envelopes goes right into the trash outside the personnel offices. If the employees vote Republican, it will be because they want to, not because the company told them.




Now, having said that, just because you have a beef with the employer doesn't mean it's a good idea to make the lives of the low-rung employees worse. Take your complaints to management at home office or district-level, as store-level employees (even assistant or store management) have absolutely no say in whatever dumbass thing home-office has done this week.

I'll reiterate: home office does not listen to what store-level employees tell them. Believe me, we've tried longer and harder than you ever will. They don't listen, they don't care, and they won't change policy for what we tell them - even if you pull some cutesy cart-dump or sermon-on-the-mount routine. It's your job to send them your feedback directly.

Grab customer comment forms by the dozens, if you need to, and mail them in. Take the blue "President wants to hear from you" envelopes, they're self-addressed to home office. Note the district manager's name and phone number off the poster near the doors. Ask for the home office customer complaint number. They're the people you need to speak to.

By leaving your shit for someone locally to put back on the shelves or standing and ranting, you make no point at all and it will never be seen by anyone except the people then and there. Congratulations - at best, you've managed to preach to the choir and make our day longer. That just makes the employees hate you too.

Target your efforts to the right people if you want to effect change.

I have two friends who work at Wal-mart here in my town. Definitely NOT easily indoctrinated R voters like some here may think.

They will schedule their Democrat employees to work on election day and give all their Republican employees the day off.

Their plan is to educate their management to do this.

and instead vote in favor of their own best interests.

I stopped shopping at Wal-Mart years ago and will never go back.

The average Wal-Mart employee doesn't work there because of a career choice, he or she works there out of necessity. that's not to say that some people don't work there because they want to, but the backbone of their employees is made up of people that take the job because they need it. That kind of employee is a lot more likely to not care for their managers, who pay them so little they have to get food stamps and actively eavesdrop on them to kepp all the employees distrustful of each other, telling them who to vote for.

trying to help workers have equal pay and bargaining rights! Man they are scarier than Halloween.

:sarcasm:

A Large corporation encourages employees to vote against the party that can actually help increase their wages/well-being.
If I were a Wal-Mart employee I would ask for a wage increase in exchange for my vote.

MKJ