SENIOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Report Hits Wal-Mart as Rights Abuser

Wal-Mart is afraid of us. The biggest corporation in the world will do anything it can to stop its workers from

joining a Union.

    A new report released by Human Rights Watch outlines the systematic denial of Wal-Mart workers’ right to organize themselves.

    Human Rights Watch typically exposes

systematic oppressive conduct by regimes

in Third World countries. By preparing

this report, the organization recognizes

that a giant corporation also can be guilty of

human rights violations.

    The report confirms what Wal-Mart’s workers have been saying for years: that managers create a climate of intimidation in which employees fear they will be fired or disciplined if they express any support

for Unionizing their workplace.

    Wal-Mart routinely spies on Union

organizers and suspected pro-Union employees. The chain engages in “unit

packing” and uses other tactics to headoff

organizing efforts. When workers have organized successfully, Wal-Mart refuses

to bargain with them and has even shut

down stores rather than recognize a

Union. Wal-Mart’s methodical violations of workers’ rights constitute a dismal record that also includes a significant number of wage-and-hour and workplace safety violations.

    In addition, the company faces the largest gender discrimination lawsuit in the history of the country.

    Wal-Mart cut health care coverage for

its employees even while touting its

alleged commitment to affordable care.

Evidence suggests that the company may have adopted a strategy of eliminating long-time workers and discouraging overweight or otherwise

unhealthy workers from applying — both as measures to reduce payroll and health care costs.

    The company’s spin doctors attacked Human Rights Watch as “pro-Union,” as if affirming an internationally recognized

right to join Unions was a bad thing.

    Yet a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch said that the organization gets only $50 of its $33-million budget from labor Unions.   Wal-Mart’s public relations machine has been working to change its image. But being a responsible employer means more than smearing one’s critics and sending out slick press releases.

By Kirk Vogt

Senior Executive Vice President

It requires acceptable corporate practices.

That includes respecting employees’

rights to organize.

    So far, Wal-Mart has gotten away with its crimes with the cooperation of an administration in Washington that shares its hatred for Unions. Americans can help restore respect for human rights by demanding passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, which has passed the United

States House of Representatives and is

being considered by the Senate.