Wal-Mart's Anti-Worker Tactics Continue

The Wall Street Journal today reported that anti-worker mega-company Wal-Mart is holding mandatory meetings where they strongly encourage their employees to vote against Democrats in November.

According to the WSJ:

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is mobilizing its store managers and department supervisors around the country to warn that if Democrats win power in November, they'll likely change federal law to make it easier for workers to unionize companies -- including Wal-Mart.

The article claims that Wal-Mart's reasoning behind the move is to stop passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. Wal-Mart has stooped to a new low in trying to force their employees to vote Republican.

I wonder if these mandatory meetings where they "informed" their employees of how they would like them to vote were any different than the intimidation and other practices that are used to prevent employees from forming a union.

I shouldn't be surprised since it is just another example of Wal-Mart doing everything it can to prevent the fair treatment of their employees.

Tuesday - Quick Hits

It can only happen in San Diego. As the city is deciding to cut budget, council votes itself a 24% pay increase. UT

Steve Francis rightly criticizes mayor Sanders proposed budget. UT

Enough already! Mount Soledad cross begins another round of court battles. UT

UCSD admits 40% of those who applied to the university. UT

Student at Vista High School diagnosed with TB. UT

New group steps forward to file suit against proposed Wal-Mart expansion in Vista. NCTimes

Wednesday - Quick Hits

Just as long as it is not a Wal-Mart. Developer proposes a 5-story vertical big box development on the edge of downtown. UT

Metropolitan Water District voted to raise water rates by 14.3 percent. UT

County had no voice in the regional meeting during the wildfires to allocation of resources. UT

City attorney candidates lock horns at debate. UT VOSD

Valley Center planning group has say on proposed casino hotel, now public will have their say. UT

City of Vista rolls over and approves expansion of Wal-Mart into a Supercenter. UT NCTimes

Union workers rally in Riverside County administration complex for temp workers to be allowed to organize. UT

Tuesday - Quick Hits

Lets the games begin! Scott Peters joins race for city attorney and he is already exchanging barbs with Aguirre. UT VOSD

City's expanded mandatory recycling program began yesterday. UT

Regional Fire Safety Forum to release report today regarding last October wildfires, here's a hint NEED MORE FIREFIGHTERS! UT

State Bar wants more details about meetings Aguirre held in 2005. UT

Fighting the good fight, the proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter in Vista challenged by attorney. NCTimes

Friday - Quick Hits

List of developers to build new city hall down to two. UT

Caltrans loses suit over eminent domain case has to pay family $26.5 million. UT

Despite letter stating otherwise, National City asks developer to consider affordable housing in project. UT

Grossmont Union High School District and teacher's union have reached a contract settlement after 18-month dispute. UT

City of Oceanside has approved a 30-year deal to purchase desal water. NCTimes

Wal-Mart submits plans to expand Poway store into a Supercenter. NCTimes

Monday - Quick Hits

Chargers gunning for two sites in CV for future stadium. UT

Thomas Jefferson law school plans move to East Village by 2010. UT

Evacuation numbers overhype by media. What a suprise! VOSD

Wal-Mart pulls the plug on Supercenter in Garden Grove. LATimes

My favorite! "America's Sheriff" to be arrained on corruption charges today. NCTimes

First Sweat Shops, Now Plagarism?

Like it was an employee starting an organizing drive, neighborhood-ruining conglomerate Wal-Mart recently dropped its famous ad slogan "Always Low Prices, Always."

For the first time in 19 years Wal-Mart slaves...errr employees, will wear vests and be featured in commercials without the famous saying. The slogan has been replaced with the much more positive sounding "Save Money, Live Better."

While the saying does give the impression that Wal-Mart actually improves people's lives (::scoff, scoff::), it is strangely similar to the famous union slogan "Live Better, Work Union." Wal-Mart should probably start paying royalties to the AFL-CIO, or at least allow their employees to be treated with dignity.

Bigger than Manhattan!

Via Daily Kos: The following link takes you to an interesting graph showing the total worldwide square footage for fast food restaurants and chain stores. Naturally, Wal-Mart by a wide margin has more square footage than anyone else, but what is really disturbing is that Wal-Mart's total acreage is 20% larger than Manhattan. Check out the graph to see it for yourself. And thanks to Donna Frye for her flip-flop back in July on the Big Box ordinance, San Diego may soon be adding to that square footage total for Wal-Mart.