Based on the numerous issues affecting employer/employer relations at Walmart, would it be in the best interests of Walmart employees to unionize? Why or Why Not?

Running head : WAL-MART EMPLOYEES UNION

Wal-Mart Employees Union

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Wal-Mart Employees Union

Wal-Mart , the largest retail store in America , gained its popularity due to the cheap products that it sells to the market (Featherstone 2004 . However , recent events , such as the numerous criticisms from various sectors in the society , have put Wal-Mart in a bad light . The main subject of these negative feedbacks is related to how the company treats its labor force . As a result of this controversial

issue , the question whether Wal-Mart 's employees should unionize or not has been debated . Based on the reports and findings about the condition of Wal-Mart 's employees , it is in their best interests to establish a union

Employees have the right to organize themselves in to influence and affect their labor conditions . Unions are organizations that are established by employees . Labor unions enable workers to influence and affect important policies that concern them such as wages , hours of work , and benefits (Resources for Union Organization [RLUO] , 2008

By establishing a union , employees could also engage easily in collective bargaining . Collective bargaining is a means by which the union and the company work together in addressing important issues like policies concerning human resource management . As such , a union plays a vital role in assuring that the rights of the employees are protected and respected (RLUO , 2008

Certainly , Wal-Mart employees would gain numerous benefits from organizing themselves and forming a union . By unionizing , they can protect themselves against any means by which the company could take advantage of them . Creating a union is the best answer in to address the maltreatment of the company towards its employees . This is very much applicable in the case of Wal-Mart employees since there have been numerous reports about how the company violated the rights of there employees . The succeeding paragraphs would discuss some of the Wal-Mart company 's infringement of their laborers rights

There have been numerous reports about the maltreatment that Wal-Mart employees experience under the company . Some of them are unfair compensation , unhealthy working conditions , discrimination , and many others . This is proven by the fact that a substantial number of Wal-Mart employees who reported that they receive unjust compensation . According to Dr . Richard Drogin who conducted a study entitled Statistical Analysis of Gender Patterns in Wal-Mart 's Workforce ' the 2003 wage analysis shows that cashiers only earn 7 .92 per hour and they work 29 hours a week . Thus , Wal-Mart cashiers only earn an annual wage of 11 ,948 (United Food and Commercial Workers International Union , 2005

Furthermore , Wal-Mart employees also work extended hours without being properly compensated for their extra hours of work . This allegation is supported by Wal-Mart 's 2006 Annual Report which proves that the company is facing 57 lawsuits regarding wage and hour issues . These lawsuits exist in the states of California , Indiana , Minnesota , Oregon Pennsylvania , as well as Washington . In relation to this , Wal-Mart is also violating the...