Union agitating again at Vegas-area Wal-Mart

Jennifer Shubinski

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003 | 11:06 a.m.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 711 planned a protest today at 5:15 p.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter at Eastern and Serene avenues in unincorporated Clark County near Henderson.

The union is protesting alleged discrimination against Wal-Mart employees who support organization of a union at the retailer; the company's health care plan, which the union said is unaffordable; and alleged unequal wages.

Union members and Miss America 1992 Carolyn Sapp, who campaigns against Wal-Mart nationwide, will also protest a local Wal-Mart worker's alleged firing for talking with union officials and attending a union forum.

Wal-Mart officials said that employee was not fired because he attended a union forum. Wal-Mart said he was fired because of "other company issues and it was a legitimate termination."

Sarah Clark, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, said the company does not tolerate discrimination against any employees.

"We do not tolerate discrimination against anyone," she said. "We are one of the leading employers when it comes to employing people with disabilities."

Clark said 50 percent of Wal-Mart employees are covered by the company's health plan and another 40 percent are covered by outside insurance plans.

Clark also said Wal-Mart's wages vary in different markets, but most often meet or exceed unionized competitors.

"Wal-Mart's position on the union is strictly that we don't believe it's right for Wal-Mart," she said. "... Our associates continue to vote that they don't want union representation and that's because we have an open-door policy and associates can talk to anybody."

The UFCW has been campaigning for two years to organize workers at Las Vegas Wal-Marts and at Wal-Mart's Sam's Club stores, but so far none of the local stores are unionized.

There are several cases pending before the National Relations Board tied to the Las Vegas union drive.

In 2002, the board ordered Wal-Mart to post notices at several stores, pledging to obey the law and to reverse disciplinary action against union supporters. A labor election at a Sam's Club at 7175 W. Spring Mountain Road in Las Vegas remains on hold while the case is pending before the board, officials said.