Two recent New York Times articles paint a picture of Wal-Mart as experiencing a turnaround in its battered public image. Wal-Mart apparently sells a lot of energy efficient light bulbs and has allegedly made marginal improvements to its stingy health care plan.
But there's a problem (among many others) with the idea of a Wal-Mart on the up-and-up: the world's largest company still has shown zero respect for the right under international and domestic law to form a labor union.
Given that to this day not a single Wal-Mart worker in the United States has the benefits of union membership and that Wal-Mart has demonstrated absolutely no sign of easing its rabid hostility to union organizing, we should cast a skeptical eye to Wal-Mart's token improvements.
Joining a labor union is the best way retail workers can exercise their right to free association on the job and articulate an independent voice in society.
Superficial improvements by Wal-Mart designed in large part to provide cover for its union-busting agenda should not distract people of conscience from holding the company accountable for its misconduct.(Wal-Mart’s Detractors Come In From the Cold) and (Smiles All Around at Wal-Mart’s Annual Meeting)