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Once you start following/helping/participating in the labor movement it becomes clear that virtually every company will go to great lengths to stop a union from

Once you start following/helping/participating in the labor movement it becomes clear that virtually every company will go to great lengths to stop a union from being formed and winning a contract, they will even break the law. The question for organizers is not "will this company do it?" but "what do we do about it when they do?"

hourago 3y ago
> they will even break the law This is probably true in the USA, as that laws seem to not be enforced. But if you enforce employee's protection laws companies will respect them.
- joker99 3y ago
  Most of them will. Some will still try to find a way around them or look for loop holes. But yes, the fact that most of them will respect them is a major win
- KennyBlanken 3y ago
  Walmart is infamous for shutting down stores that unionize. This can be particularly devastating to the community because Walmart's whole schtick is to wipe out every other business in the area through "dumping" - flooding the market with stuff sold at a loss until they drive the other companies out of business. So not only do a lot of people in town / the county lose their jobs, but they lose the only place to shop for a lot of things. Result? Anyone who talks about unionizing gets reported, or simply ostracized. "Shut the fuck up, Jim. You wanna get the place shut down? We'll all be driving an hour to get our groceries."
  - derefr 3y ago
    Seems like the best game-theoretic strategy for small towns, would be to unionize whatever particular type of retail worker Walmart uses in advance, as a prophylactic to prevent Walmart from ever coming to town.
    - angelbar 3y ago
      That will be brilliant. And transparent management of unions will be essential.
m463 3y ago
I remember watching the walmart movie, and they had one part where walmart would not put security cameras in their parking lot. Robbery, rape and murder. But one store did have cameras in the parking lot - for surveillance of employees trying to form a union.

hourago 3y ago

> they will even break the law This is probably true in the USA, as that laws seem to not be enforced. But if you enforce employee's protection laws companies will respect them.

joker99 3y ago
Most of them will. Some will still try to find a way around them or look for loop holes. But yes, the fact that most of them will respect them is a major win
KennyBlanken 3y ago
Walmart is infamous for shutting down stores that unionize. This can be particularly devastating to the community because Walmart's whole schtick is to wipe out every other business in the area through "dumping" - flooding the market with stuff sold at a loss until they drive the other companies out of business. So not only do a lot of people in town / the county lose their jobs, but they lose the only place to shop for a lot of things. Result? Anyone who talks about unionizing gets reported, or simply ostracized. "Shut the fuck up, Jim. You wanna get the place shut down? We'll all be driving an hour to get our groceries."
- derefr 3y ago
  Seems like the best game-theoretic strategy for small towns, would be to unionize whatever particular type of retail worker Walmart uses in advance, as a prophylactic to prevent Walmart from ever coming to town.
  - angelbar 3y ago
    That will be brilliant. And transparent management of unions will be essential.

m463 3y ago

I remember watching the walmart movie, and they had one part where walmart would not put security cameras in their parking lot. Robbery, rape and murder. But one store did have cameras in the parking lot - for surveillance of employees trying to form a union.