Statement by SEIU President Andy Stern on Today's WSJ Article, Wal-Mart Warns of Democratic Win"

Today a Wall Street Journal article reports that Wal-Mart is holding mandatory meetings with supervisors and managers to warn them that if Senator Obama wins the presidential election, Democrats will pass the Employee Free Choice Act, making it easier for workers to unionize in Wal-Mart stores. In response, SEIU President Andy Stern released the following statement:

"Today's Wall Street Journal story raises serious questions about whether Wal-Mart is attempting to influence its workers' votes.

"Wal-Mart's decision to use valuable resources to discourage its workers from joining a union should surprise no one.  What is astonishing is that while Wal-Mart pays its employees dismal wages, the Walton family has made nearly $20 billion since last November on the rise in Wal-Mart's stock alone and Lee Scott was ranked as the highest paid CEO in consumer retail.

"Hardworking men and women such as Wal-Mart's average hourly employees are having a tough time making ends meet in this economy, yet Wal-Mart's board of the directors and the Walton family continues to prosper.  Rather than adjusting the company's behavior to improve conditions for its employees, Wal-Mart has chosen to intimidate its workers to maintain the status quo.  This time the company may have crossed the line.

"SEIU will be looking into these matters more closely to determine if we should request an investigation."

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