Wal-Mart union drive heats up

Grace Leong

Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2001 | 11:21 a.m.

A nationwide union organizing drive at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which is originating in Las Vegas, is kicking into high gear with the first request for a store-wide election and the filing of federal labor law complaints against the nation's largest retailer.

Several employees of Wal-Mart's Sam's Club store at 7175 W. Spring Mountain Road in Las Vegas filed a petition with the NLRB on Sept. 19 for an election to have representation by United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 711.

And the National Labor Relations Board filed two complaints against several Las Vegas Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores, charging they violated labor laws when they allegedly discouraged their workers from supporting the UFCW.

Steve Wamser, NLRB's regional deputy attorney, said both parties haven't agreed on election dates and the composition of the proposed bargaining unit -- in other words which workers would be represented by a union if a union is recognized.

"If the parties can't reach agreement on the election, then they'll go to a hearing before the NLRB," he said.

"There've been smaller elections of individual departments within Wal-Mart stores in the past. This, however, is the first election of an entire store," said Al Zack, assistant director of strategic programs of the UFCW International union in Washington D.C.

The NLRB issued a complaint against 36 management personnel at three Wal-Mart stores on Sept. 20, alleging they interrogated their workers about their union sympathies and threatened them with a loss of benefits should they support the UFCW. A hearing is scheduled on Jan. 15, 2002.

The NLRB also filed a complaint against 23 managers at three Sam's Club stores on Sept. 21, alleging they threatened to fire workers who supported the union and offered higher wages to those who refrained from participating in union activities. A hearing is scheduled on Feb. 12, 2002.

"This should help because it shows workers in Las Vegas and nationwide that the NLRB isn't in Wal-Mart's pocket," Zack said.

Jessica Moser, Wal-Mart's spokeswoman, could not be reached for comment.