Obama: Hillary & Wal Mart - Bad! My Wife and Wal-Mart - Sweet!!

Forum Name General Discussion: Politics
Topic subject Obama: Hillary & Wal Mart - Bad! My Wife and Wal-Mart - Sweet!!
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4154828#4154862
4154862, Obama: Hillary & Wal Mart - Bad! My Wife and Wal-Mart - Sweet!!
Posted by MethuenProgressive on Tue Jan-22-08 10:50 AM

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4153224&mesg_id=4153224

Did Obama really think no one knew about his wife?


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Forum Name General Discussion: Politics
Topic subject While on the board of Wal-Mart, Hillary voted "Present" regarding union-busting.
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4155353#4155353
4155353, While on the board of Wal-Mart, Hillary voted "Present" regarding union-busting.
Posted by Kristi1696 on Tue Jan-22-08 11:34 AM

From the New York Times Article: "As a Director, Clinton Moved Wal-Mart Board, but Only So Far"

Though she was passionate about issues like gender and sustainability, Mrs. Clinton largely sat on the sidelines when it came to Wal-Mart and unions, board members said. Since its founding in 1962, Wal-Mart has fought unionization efforts at its stores and warehouses, employing hard-nosed tactics — like allegedly firing union supporters and spying on employees — that have become the subject of legal complaints against the company.

A special team at Wal-Mart handled those activities, but Mr. Walton was vocal in his opposition to unions. Indeed, he appointed the lawyer who oversaw the company’s union monitoring, Mr. Tate, to the board, where he served with Mrs. Clinton.

During their meetings and private conversations, Mrs. Clinton never voiced objections to Wal-Mart’s stance on unions, said Mr. Tate and John A. Cooper, another board member.

“She was not an outspoken person on labor, because I think she was smart enough to know that if she favored labor, she was the only one,” Mr. Tate said. “It would only lessen her own position on the board if she took that position.”


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So Hillary sat on the sidelines, while Wal-Mart became the evil corporation that it now is. And this is part of her "35 years of experience" that supposedly makes her the most qualified Democratic candidate?

Forum Name General Discussion: Primaries
Topic subject The facts on Clinton and Wal-Mart
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4160550#4160550
4160550, The facts on Clinton and Wal-Mart
Posted by ProSense on Tue Jan-22-08 05:15 PM

The facts on Clinton and Wal-Mart
January 22, 2008
CLINTON SAYS SHE WORKED TO PROMOTE WOMEN AND DIVERSITY AT WALMART...

Clinton: I Worked To Promote Women, Diversity, Environment At Wal-Mart. "It's no secret that I served on the Board of Wal-Mart. I took a very active role in promoting diversity and involvement of women. I started talking about and working on the environment and the steps that the corporation could take. But I had disagreements with Wal-Mart that are also well known. I disagree with their approach toward unions and for a long time I urged then to provide healthcare to their workers." (Clinton press avail, 1/22/08)

...BUT THE RECORD SAYS OTHERWISE

Clinton Did Not Rock The Boat On Labor Or Gender Issues At Wal-Mart. The Los Angeles Time reported of Clinton's tenure at Wal-Mart, "Crowded with the others around metal folding tables in the kitchen of a converted warehouse -- a no-frills board room selected by 'Mr. Sam' himself -- Clinton assumed the role of loyalist reformer, making the case for measured change without rocking the boat. (...) Wal-Mart critics say her presence brought little lasting change to the firm. And former executives say she was not a voice for bold reform. 'She was not a dissenter,' said Donald G. Soderquist, Wal-Mart's former chief operating officer and the board's vice chairman during Clinton's tenure. 'She was a part of those decisions.'" (Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07)

A Lawyer Suing Wal-Mart Claims There Was "No Change For The Better" For Women During Clinton's Tenure. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Assigned to work on the diversity issue that preoccupied Walton's wife and daughter, Clinton joined an advisory committee that Walton had assigned to draft recommendations on pay parity and hiring women and minorities as executives. Rhoads said he and Clinton flew to New York to consult with a firm that helped corporations recruit more female directors. But Tom Seay, a former Wal-Mart vice president who was on the advisory committee, said that her 'involvement was limited' and that Wal-Mart staffers did 'most of the heavy lifting.' (...) The committee's existence -- and Clinton's role on it -- was not previously acknowledged by company officials said Joseph T. Sellers, one of the lawyers behind a class action lawsuit against Wal-Mart on behalf of women claiming discrimination. 'There was no change for the better during that period for women at Wal-Mart,' Sellers said. 'If there was change, it was minimal. Nobody knew about it or else it was just too subtle to recognize.' " (Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07)

Fellow Board Member: Clinton "Stayed Pretty Much In The Background On The Board." The Los Angeles Times reports, "On the board, Clinton impressed other outside directors brought in by Walton. 'She stayed pretty much in the background. But she was an advocate for women, quietly and effectively,' said Toys "R" Us founder Charles Lazarus, who became a director in 1984." (Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07)

Former Wal-Mart COO: Clinton Did Not Object To Wal-Mart's Union Policies. The Los Angeles Times reported, "Bob Ortega, author of 'In Sam We Trust,' a history of Wal-Mart, said workers were provided with incentives such as stock purchase programs and bonuses for efficiency while the firm sent in teams of lawyers and executives to stiffen resistance to union organizing efforts. Although the details of Wal-Mart's anti-union efforts were rarely broached during board meetings, Tate said recently, Clinton 'clearly knew the company's reputation.' Tate said that when he 'made presentations on what we were doing' during board meetings, Clinton did not raise objections. (Former Wal-Mart COO) Soderquist agreed, saying there was 'no sign that she had any criticism.'" (Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07)

Clinton Was Silent On Union Issues During Her Tenure On Wal-Mart's Board. Fellow board members and Wal-Mart executive said Clinton used her position on the company's board to champion personal causes, like the need for more women in management and a comprehensive environmental program, despite being Wal-Mart's only female director, the youngest and arguably the least experienced in business. On other topics, like Wal-Mart's vehement anti-unionism, for example, she was largely silent, they said Though she was passionate about issues like gender and sustainability, Clinton largely sat on the sidelines when it came to Wal-Mart and unions, board members said. During their meetings and private conversations, Clinton never voiced objections to Wal-Mart's stance on unions, said John Tate and John A. Cooper, board members who served with her. "She was not an outspoken person on labor, because I think she was smart enough to know that if she favored labor, she was the only one," Tate said. "It would only lessen her own position on the board if she took that position." A spokesman for Clinton said, "Wal-Mart workers should be able to unionize and bargain collectively." (New York Times, 5/20/07)

Critics Said Clinton Did Not Improve the Experience of Female Employees During Her Time on the Wal-Mart Board. The AP wrote, "Critics said there was little tangible change at Wal-Mart during Clinton's tenure, despite her apparent prodding. 'There's no evidence she did anything to improve the status of women or make it a very different place in ways Mrs. Clinton's Democratic base would care about,' said Liza Featherstone, author of 'Selling Women Short: The Landmark Battle for Worker's Rights at Wal-Mart.'" (AP, 3/11/06)

While Clinton Was A Director, Wal-Mart Resisted Unionization. The Village Voice wrote, "At the time, Hillary Clinton was still on Wal-Mart's board, and the retail giant was still resisting the unionization of any of its workers." (Village Voice, 5/30/00)


Hillary Inc., posted here
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Forum Name General Discussion: Primaries
Topic subject She 'was a thorn ' in the side of Walmart. You imply she did nothing. From THE NATION:
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4160550#4162805
4162805, She 'was a thorn ' in the side of Walmart. You imply she did nothing. From THE NATION:
Posted by LulaMay on Tue Jan-22-08 07:55 PM

But first let me say: Even after being given the truth that she did speak up for women and workers, people complain that she didn't say anything about unions. Even that claim is specious, can't be proven, but to give her NO CREDIT for anything and complain that she didn' do anyting for unions, you seriously expect one board member of Walmart to somehow make them unionize?

The poster tried to distort her record that she was a complicit board member who rubber stamped Walmart crap, and THAT IS NOT TRUE,

No matter if you think she did enough or not.

You have to start somewhere. She spoke up for women and worker conditions, against everyone else on the board. Organizing Walmart is a huge, daunting fight that even LABOR hasn't been able to begin an effective campaign to accomplish. Ultimately, labor needs to figure out how to wage an effective fight, and employees have to be behind it for anyone to be able to have an effective voice in aboard room.

The Farmworker's Union knows how hard it is, probably more then most, and they endorse HRC, along with Delores Huerta and Chavez son.


FROM 'THE NATION', 2004:

Asked what it will take to organize Wal-Mart, Al Zack, outgoing assistant director of strategic programs for the UFCW, points to Wal-Mart's stated commitment to remaining "union free." Says Zack, "When the labor movement...matches that commitment, then it will be successful."

It would be difficult to exaggerate the magnitude of this challenge. Wal-Mart's rhetoric is supported by diligent practice. The company screens out potential union supporters through its hiring process: In addition to excluding those with union histories, the company also administers personality tests to weed out those likely to be sympathetic to unions, and offers managers tips on how to spot such people.

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As the UFCW's humbling defeat in the California grocery strike showed, the union, after years of friendly relations with so many regional grocery stores, does not know how to conduct an antagonistic national campaign, or how to make use of nationwide publicity and public sympathy for workers. Many labor organizers, pointing to such failings, blame the UFCW for its failure to organize Wal-Mart.

But the mistakes of this particular union may almost be beside the point. While it is true--and sobering--that the UFCW devotes only 2 percent of its national budget to the Wal-Mart campaign, it is also true, as many in the labor movement are beginning to recognize, that there is no way any single union could tackle an opponent of this size and genius. As Mike Leonard, just-retired director of strategic programs for the UFCW, observes, if his union spent all its resources on organizing Wal-Mart workers, it would have to neglect the pressing needs of current members.

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Most people agree that any serious approach to forcing Wal-Mart to the bargaining table must eventually threaten the company's profits. Labor organizers used to think they could do this by asking the public not to shop at Wal-Mart, but now most concede that's impossible, given the retailer's low prices. Their own members shop at Wal-Mart, making at least 30 percent of union credit-card purchases at the retail giant. Even activists thinking seriously about how to oppose the retailer keep finding themselves in its parking lots. "I love that damn store," says Rathke, who recalls being a loyal customer when he lived in Arkansas and needed the discounts. "They had me. I wasn't making 2 cents to put together." Now he lives in New Orleans, and admits, "Damned if I don't go down to Sam's for a new tire! They do have something that works. You can't just convince people they're evil." Indeed, many rural and working-class women view Wal-Mart as an ally, an oasis of low prices in an unfriendly world. In her chart-topping paean to country pride, "Redneck Woman," Gretchen Wilson sums it up irresistibly: "Victoria's Secret, well their stuff's real nice/But I can buy the same damn thing on a Wal-Mart shelf half price/And still look sexy, just as sexy as those models on TV/No, I don't need no designer tag to make my man want me." The question of how to threaten profits, given such intense consumer loyalty, is one of many that the labor movement's current dialogue must engage.