Wal-Mart Efforts Prevent Workers to Unionize

Retail giant Wal-Mart uses anti-union methods to prevent their employees from forming them. By taking advantage of weak U.S. labor laws and telling workers and managers to oppose unions when they are hired, Wal-Mart has put fear in their employees that unions are unnecessary. Tactics such as banning union reps from being on site, firings, eavesdropping, surveillance camera monitoring, and prohibiting union flyer distribution are being done by Wal-Mart. Because U.S. labor laws are so weak, and if Wal-Mart is found guilty of these doings, they will only receive a “slap on the wrist,” and could face no fines or disciplinary actions. The Human Rights Watch (HRW) group wants Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act and President Bush’s approval to make this a law to protect workers who wish to organize unions at their workplace. The HRW also wants Wal-Mart to stop these unfair and illegal tactics and anti-union behavior.

I believe that workers have the right to unionize if they choose to have one at their workplace. They should be able to vote on it, and not be forced by their employer to decide for them. Wal-Mart is one of the largest retail businesses in the U.S., who also hires a large number of people to work in their stores. Wal-Mart should set an example to the American public by allowing their employees to be represented by a union or not, and not have to use unfair and illegal methods to scare or force them to not unionize. These workers have rights in their place of employment, so by passing this bill it would protect their right to form or join a union.

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/05/01/usdom15797.htm