Dayton commission urges Wal-Mart to value workers
Dayton commission urges Wal-Mart to value workers
By Joanne Huist Smith
Staff Writer
Thursday, December 21, 2006
DAYTON — The Dayton City Commission sent a message to Wal-Mart on Wednesday, calling on the nation's biggest discount chain to treat its employees fairly and with dignity.
Supporters claim the commission's resolution is the first of its kind in the nation.
About 100 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1099, acting with Wake-Up Wal-Mart, crowded into the commission chambers to ask for support in their fight to encourage the corporation to provide affordable health care for all employees, living wages and a fair workplace.
The commission endorsed the union's efforts in an informal resolution. Commissioner Joey Williams abstained.
"The passage of this resolution is the first of its kind in the nation," Bill Dudley, director of organizing and strategic operations for the union, which represents 20,000 Kroger, CVS and Meijer employees in southwest Ohio. The commission plans to send a copy of the resolution to Wal-Mart corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Ark.
"We're making a statement because Wal-Mart is a large employer," said Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin. "We expect Wal-Mart to lead by example."
Brigid Kelly, political coordinator for the union, said they're not trying to unionize Wal-Mart employees.
"We're asking Wal-Mart to treat their employees and the community better," Kelly said. "Employees there don't have the benefit of having a union like we do."
Marisa Bluestone, Wal-Mart spokeswoman, said the company would appreciate an opportunity to respond to the allegations to the city commission.
"We're a good community partner," Bluestone said. "Our superstores each donate $30,000 to $50,000 a year to local communities for education, police and fire."
Bluestone said employee wages are based on years of experience and that the average full-time hourly worker earns $10.11 per hour in the United Sates and has 18 health-care plans to choose among.
"Three-quarters of our store managers began as hourly employees," she said.
Copyright ©2006 Cox Ohio Publishing, Dayton, Ohio, USA. All rights reserved.
By Joanne Huist Smith
Staff Writer
Thursday, December 21, 2006
DAYTON — The Dayton City Commission sent a message to Wal-Mart on Wednesday, calling on the nation's biggest discount chain to treat its employees fairly and with dignity.
Supporters claim the commission's resolution is the first of its kind in the nation.
About 100 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1099, acting with Wake-Up Wal-Mart, crowded into the commission chambers to ask for support in their fight to encourage the corporation to provide affordable health care for all employees, living wages and a fair workplace.
The commission endorsed the union's efforts in an informal resolution. Commissioner Joey Williams abstained.
"The passage of this resolution is the first of its kind in the nation," Bill Dudley, director of organizing and strategic operations for the union, which represents 20,000 Kroger, CVS and Meijer employees in southwest Ohio. The commission plans to send a copy of the resolution to Wal-Mart corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Ark.
"We're making a statement because Wal-Mart is a large employer," said Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin. "We expect Wal-Mart to lead by example."
Brigid Kelly, political coordinator for the union, said they're not trying to unionize Wal-Mart employees.
"We're asking Wal-Mart to treat their employees and the community better," Kelly said. "Employees there don't have the benefit of having a union like we do."
Marisa Bluestone, Wal-Mart spokeswoman, said the company would appreciate an opportunity to respond to the allegations to the city commission.
"We're a good community partner," Bluestone said. "Our superstores each donate $30,000 to $50,000 a year to local communities for education, police and fire."
Bluestone said employee wages are based on years of experience and that the average full-time hourly worker earns $10.11 per hour in the United Sates and has 18 health-care plans to choose among.
"Three-quarters of our store managers began as hourly employees," she said.
Copyright ©2006 Cox Ohio Publishing, Dayton, Ohio, USA. All rights reserved.
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