Unions 1-Wal-Mart 0? Not exactly.
The corrupt and union owned Chicago City Council has been pushing Wal-Mart to meet with union leaders in an effort to break the impasse holding up two Wal-Mart stores. Wal-Mart has steadfastly refused. The meeting was to be held with Chicago Federation president James Gannon- a good pal of the mayor- and two other union officials.
Both of these stores would be built on the Southside of Chicago in areas that are retail and employment deserts.
According to the Chicago Sun Times, Wal-Mart has agreed to meet with the union officials, possibly to sign a community benefits agreement. Wal-Mart has refused to negotiate wages and benefits- as is their right. This agreement would guarantee the stores are built with union labor and local residents would have first shot at all hiring.
The meeting, to be held yesterday, was canceled. According to a Wal-Mart spokesman, they never agreed to anything. The Times reports Mayor Daley demanded the meeting. Alderman Beale and others think this is a good idea. They would.
First, it is unconscionable the city would deny zoning and permission to build and operate any business over labor issues. They have no skin in this game- except the hefty campaign bribes labor uses to buy elected officials. It is solely up to management, employees, and unions to decide these issues. There are no management or employees yet. Zoning and building permissions only issues are land use, building use, and building safety.
Secondly, if Wal-Mart meets with union officials, they will have signed their own death warrant. Once corrupt Chicago union officials get their foot in the door, it is all over. If SEIU or UCFW wants a contract and Wal-Mart rebuffs them, the stores will be mercilessly harassed by the city. Every inspector will be coming out of the woodwork on a regular basis. The aldermen will sing the union tune and brow beat Wal-Mart. If Wal-Mart complains they will be told- negotiate or else. That's the Chicago way.
Thirdly, the city of Chicago is acting like some venally corrupt third world dictatorship over this issue. The mayor demands Wal-Mart meet with his good pal Gannon? Aldermen, who gleefully take cash from the unions, demand businesses negotiate with them or no shovel will be in the ground? Who knew we elected Hugo Chavez and Iranian mullahs to run Chicago?
It is time to stop this crushing dictatorship and tyranny. It is time for the people to speak. The people who vote. The people who need a place to shop for necessities. The people who need jobs.
Oh, my bad. The aldermen shut that down. When Wal-Mart's local representatives tried that, the union owned aldermen ordered them to stop. Of course SEIU and other unions can do this with impunity. They can use any tactic to get their way.
No dissent is allowed in the United Soviet Socialist Republic of Chicago. Unless the unions and their bought and owned government say so.
Filed under: Business, Chicago, Editorial, Labor, News, Opinion, Political Corruption, Politics
Tags: Chiago Aldermen, Mayor Richard Daley, political corruption, unions, Wal-Mart
