Union Wal-Mart Protest Angers Congressional Black Caucus Members

[Itsthetruth]

Union Protest Angers Black Caucus Members
SEIU Complained About Wal-Mart Role

By Thomas B. Edsall
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 15, 2005

The Service Employees International Union has angered a number of African American House members by protesting Wal-Mart's involvement in a Congressional Black Caucus fundraiser.

The conflict between two mainstays of the Democratic Party began after Anna Burger, SEIU secretary-treasurer, wrote caucus members "to express our disappointment that the Congressional Black Caucus has given Wal-Mart an opportunity to fashion a false image as a friend of African Americans and of working people generally."
"As the largest employer in the world, Wal-Mart's labor relations model is now undermining standards for all American workers," Burger wrote in her letter to caucus members. "The average salesclerk makes below the poverty line, and a majority of Wal-Mart workers cannot afford the company's health insurance plan. . . . Wal-Mart has forced its more than 600 suppliers to shift operations overseas to exploit workers there at even lower wages while destroying good American jobs."

Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.) called Service Employees International Union complaint "presumptuous." "The attitude of the letter was that somehow we were allowing someone to do this as though we had no free will or common sense," he said. The CBC chairman, Rep. Melvin Watt (D-N.C.), said, "I couldn't imagine them writing a similar letter to other members of Congress, Democrats, Blue Dogs , Republicans."

Wal-Mart has become a significant supporter of the CBC Foundation. Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.), chairman of the foundation, said the company first gave $50,000 about four years ago and has since raised its annual gift to $100,000. The caucus and its foundation have been criticized for accepting contributions from tobacco companies and beer manufacturers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/14/AR2005051400765.html

[candy]

1. Well now,that's interesting. It always ends up being about the

money these days and Walmart sure has money.

Shame on the CBC.

[idlisambar]

2. The CBC sold out it seems n/t

[B Calm]

3. They should be criticized for accepting money. Have they no shame?

[SoCalDem]

4. Lie down with dogs.. get fleas

ancient chinese proverb:P

[gratuitous]

5. With due respect, Mr. Wynn

SEIU is addressing you precisely as if you had free will and common sense. If the money being lavished on you by the bloody Wal-Mart corporation is coming whether you want it or not, then you would not have the "free will" to reject it. As for common sense, it's only common sense to look at the end of the bat that's beating you to see that it's being wielded by the Wal-Mart Bouncing Happy Face of Corporate Oppression. This little fact seems to have eluded you or made of no account by the CBC. SEIU is simply suggesting that you should learn this fact or take it a little more seriously.

Quit whining and do the right thing.