New national Wal-Mart organizing drive starting in Las Vegas stores

Thursday, Dec. 7, 2000 | 11:19 a.m.

The United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) is launching a new recruitment drive among Wal-Mart's 885,000 workers nationwide, whom it says are paid at least 25 percent less than at unionized food store chains, starting in Las Vegas.

The UFCW said it has "spent tremendous energy trying to slow Wal-Mart's expansion" because it fears non-union Wal-Mart Inc. would drag down the wages and benefits of the union's 850,000 workers nationwide.

"The average wage for Wal-Mart workers is $6-$7 an hour, while unionized workers earn $10-$14 an hour," said Greg Denier, UFCW's spokesman. "While Wal-Mart has expanded, introducing supercenters here that feature regular goods and grocery stores under one roof, they have also introduced low-wage, no-benefit jobs in Las Vegas. This is a direct attack on the Las Vegas standards in the retail food industry."

But Jessica Moser, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman, disagreed.

"We have a very competitive wage and comprehensive benefit package that includes profit sharing, stock options for our associates, stock purchase plans and also medical benefits for part-time and full time associates."

The union said it plans to enlist the help of Las Vegas' casino workers union (the Culinary) and local religious groups to organize Wal-Mart's workers here.

The UFCW said some organizers have been quietly organizing among some 3,000 Wal-Mart workers at 11 Las Vegas stores and the union also plans to run local radio spots within the next six weeks featuring Wal-Mart workers. The union said it will send all Wal-Mart workers nationwide a video about Wal-Mart workers talking about working conditions at the store.