Global Union Discusses Plans to Unionize Wal-Mart Aug. 22-25; Vanderbilt University Labor Expert Available.NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Global union taking on Wal-Mart a classic showdown between "David and Goliath David and Goliath are figures of a well-known tale in the Bible (1 Samuel 17, in most English language versions), wherein David, an Israelite shepherd-boy and future King of Israel. " Labor unions from around the world will meet next week (Aug. 22-25) in Chicago to plan efforts to organize workers at Wal-Mart stores around the world. Up to 1,500 delegates will debate the plan at the second annual World Congress of United Network International, a five-year-old global union whose aim is to get multinational corporations
Dan Cornfield, Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University, at Nashville, Tenn.; coeducational; chartered 1872 as Central Univ. of Methodist Episcopal Church, founded and renamed 1873, opened 1875 through a gift from Cornelius Vanderbilt. Until 1914 it operated under the auspices of the Methodist Church. labor expert and professor of sociology, says the meeting and proposed plan to unionize Wal-Mart workers is significant on the labor front for a number of reasons. He says UNI's plans are the vanguard of a movement toward multi-national collective bargaining agreements The contractual agreement between an employer and a Labor Union that governs wages, hours, and working conditions for employees and which can be enforced against both the employer and the union for failure to comply with its terms. , which are exceedingly rare and represent the next frontier or challenge for labor unions. Unions from around the world working together is also a cutting-edge strategy, he says. "UNI taking on Wal-Mart is also the classic showdown between David and Goliath. Wal-Mart is a savvy and resourceful corporation and its employees represent the type of low-wage workers labor unions have gone after to increase its dwindling dwin·dle v. dwin·dled, dwin·dling, dwin·dles v.intr. To become gradually less until little remains. v.tr. To cause to dwindle. See Synonyms at decrease. membership," Cornfield says. "Post World War II, recruiting low-wage workers in the corporate service sector has been where the action is for labor unions." Cornfield says this event does have some historical parallels to when unions took on the growing mass production manufacturing sector in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. in the 1930s. The unions were able to successfully organize the auto workers, which was comparable then to what UNI is trying to do now with Wal-Mart, he says. Cornfield is editor of "Work and Occupations," a scholarly journal that covers work, employment and labor issues. He is the author of more than 40 articles and seven books on work, employment and labor issues, including his co-edited book, "Labor Revitalization: Global Perspectives and New Initiatives." To interview Cornfield, call 615-322-2706. After hours, call the Vanderbilt News Service pager at 615-951-5472. NOTE TO EDITORS: Vanderbilt has a broadcast facility with a dedicated fiber optic line for live TV interviews and an ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. line. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion