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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Target Store Votes Against Unionization

Workers at a Target store in Valley Stream, N.Y. voted against unionization, but the union has vowed to try again, alleging the retailer illegally intimidated workers.

The United Food and Commercial Workers filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations board saying that Target had banned workers from wearing buttons in support of the union and from talking about the working conditions at the store on online sites. They also said Target threatened employees with getting fired if they talked about the union.

In meetings leading up to the vote and in fliers they passed out, Target told workers that the union couldn't guarantee higher wages and that the union just wanted their due money. The store also said there was no certainty the store would stay open after it was unionized.

"Target believes we have followed all laws as outlined by the National Labor Relations Board," a company rep told NYT.

N.Y. Target workers say no to union [Star-Tribune]
Losing Vote at a Target in New York, Union Vows to Try Again [NYT]

from Ben Popken @ The Consumerist

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

A union is good in theory but a cancer in application. The bigger and more powerful a union becomes the more corrupt it becomes.

In some ways, a union is like a welfare program.

Anonymous said...

Looks like the people in this country are waking up to the reality of unions.
Organize a union and bargin you job away due to bankrupting the company you work for, all the while making the union thug bosses very rich.
Unions are a blight on this country and have no place in a free society!

Anonymous said...

??????? Yes all those dues you pay is so much like wlefare. Working for a living and getting paid to do it is so much like welfare. Slavery alive and well on the shore.

Anonymous said...

Waa Waa Waa. If the employer paid a fair wage and benifits to begin with no woker would want a freakin union. Ahhh the rich get richer and sub class workers get poorer. The good ole American way. NOT

Uions have a bad rap due to the behavior of the Teamsters. There are unions that have worked well with management and all are happy.

Anonymous said...

7:51 AM

Let me spell it out for you.

When you become a member of a union, you have a set amount of work you are required to do. (quota)

As long as you meet your quota, you can stop working and goof off.

Your status is determined by senority, not performance.

It is very difficult to fire an employee when in a union.

Understand?

Have no clue what you are talking about concerning slavery.

Anonymous said...

The Teamsters are one of the few more powerful unions! If you don't come up with the bucks, you might..ummm...have an unfortunate accident. Most others are a total waste.

The reality is that none of the workers who vote in a union will ever see any benefit from it. The first contract will take years to put together, and it will be miserable because the union has no leverage until a contract is in effect. The second contract will take several years after the expiration of the first contract and will be about even with what the company planned to give the workers all along. The third contract will probably be ratified about 12 years or more after the union was voted in, and might be better for someone just starting to work there. Anyone who worked there for those 12 yrs has lost major bucks that they will not live long enough to earn back.

Anonymous said...

Since your statement is solely based on a factory enviroment I and production labor. there are unions that represent teachers,police,fireman,truck drivers,etc...

I agree unions are a burden in some settings. However when a worker workrs a ten hour day and is not afforded a meal break or rest room break. That is just plain beyond comprehension.

I guarantee there are no quatos so low an employe get to jerk off all day. If the business is forced into bankruptcy the union loses. You can not squeeze dues from a unemployed person.

It is ironic that you mention union presidents getting rich. The owner of the business gets rich as well.

I do not like unions but being in a situation myself that an employer refuses to pay a fair benefit has caused me to support the union.

I will say the last twenty years we requested a stronger benefit package. It fell on deaf ears. Now there is at least dialog. I will also state that 90% of the workers never wanted to see a union myself included,but after twenty years of being crapped on the workers voted unamimously for the union. There was not one nea vote.

I will not nention this business by name you would be shocked to find out who it is.

Over seventy-five percent of the voters felt the same way in 2006. Sad it had to get to this.

Anonymous said...

Nice spelling 7:54. You just made our point perfectly. Go back to school.

Anonymous said...

Target is my new go to store they stood up to the corrupt unions and to the hate attacks from the gay activists.

Anonymous said...

8:21
Your post is full of falsehoods.
Federal Law garanties breaks and meals.
The union boss gets rich with no stake in the company. The owner of the company has his life savings and credit at full risk to create a company. Who should get rich from the investment?
Employers pay and provide benefits based on the value of the employee.
If the employees feel they are more valuable than what's offered they can go elsewhere.
The real truth thou, is that the union strongarms UNCOMPETETIVE compensation that usually drives the jobs somewhere else.
Vote in a union, and vote you job away!

Anonymous said...

3:41 PM

Glad I wasn't the only one to spot that. Union people often twist the facts and use half truths to justify their existence.

Anonymous said...

Funny 3:41 I have never heard of the unions making it in where the workers are taken care of. The cost and work alone to get a union in place is staggering. One must have a need to call them in I would think. I do not like unions but this is America not China or Russia. The teachers have a union I think that speaks volumes as to the potential need in some areas. I am sure like everything else that involves money there is some level of corruption. I guess employer beware if you hire someone with a brain and they see they are not being treated fairly there is a chance a union will prevail.

You dont see union reps at Mircosoft,I.B.M. etc.. Those that pay a fair wage for the work usually do not fear unions. Those that live in the 30's might have something to worry about. I guess the bottom line is why would you not take care of those that take care of you ? Quality versus quanity applies here. Simple logistics.

Anonymous said...

5:51 PM

There are those falsehoods again. IBM does have unions and employees at Microsoft are anything but happy.

Logistics?