Two Unions are Finding Deals at Wal-Mart

Two Unions are Finding Deals at Wal-Mart

"After waging an aggressive public relations campaign against Wal-Mart for three years, the company's full-time, union-backed critics, who once vowed never to let up, are putting down their cudgels," writes Michael Barbaro. The article examines Wal-Mart Watch, sponsored by Andy Stern and his Service Employees International Union, and WakeUpWalmart which is financed by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. It notes that the friendlier relationship between the unions and Wal-Mart led to the company disbanding its front group called Working Families for Wal-Mart "Shrill condemnations and embarrassing leaked documents are giving way to acknowledgments of progress — and, in the case of Wal-Mart Watch, free advice." Through targeted (but inadequate) labor and environmental initiatives, the company has left its critics "navigating a complex situation in which they have to decide, issue by issue, whether to shake hands with the company or to slap it."

Center for Media and Democracy - Publishers of PR Watch 6/5/08 1:19 PM Sheldon Rampton corporate social responsibility corporations environment labor Comments