DEAR EDITOR:
In her letter to The Dispatch, Wal-Mart spokesperson Amy Hill
says that
”
Wal-Mart associates are satisfied with working conditions and
unions have never been able to gain ground.
DEAR EDITOR:
In her letter to The Dispatch, Wal-Mart spokesperson Amy Hill says that “Wal-Mart associates are satisfied with working conditions and unions have never been able to gain ground. Full-time and part-time associates consistently receive competitive wages and numerous benefits.”
Here is a modest proposal:
1) Wal-Mart will agree to hold a free and fair election of its employees as to whether or not they want a union. Detailed ground rules for such an election will be agreed to by the company and the union.
2) The conduct of the election will be monitored and supervised by a mutually agreeable group of local church, community, business and labor leaders. This group will have the ability to enter the store, to speak to workers outside the presence of supervisors, and to otherwise determine that the agreed upon conditions are being adhered to.
3) Wal-Mart will agree not to intimidate and harass its employees, threaten to fire or otherwise discipline pro-union employees, hold mandatory propaganda meetings on company time, or otherwise apply pressure to those employees. The union will do the same. Wal-Mart will give employees the right to meet with union representatives at the work site in a manner that is not disruptive to the conduct of business.
4) The company will agree that it will voluntarily recognize the union as the representative of said employees and bargain in good faith when and if those community leaders verify that a majority of the employees have expressed their desire for such representation. Both parties will agree to abide by the results of this election if it is certified by the above-mentioned community committee as free and fair.
I eagerly await Ms. Hill’s response.
Roger R. Rivera, San Jose,
President of United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 423
Submitted Wednesday, Oct. 22 to ed****@ga****.com
