Look, I used to be an actor in a union job
A Walmart anti-union video leaked onto the internet yesterday.
It's been pulled down from YouTube. UPDATE: It's back up! Walmart has had problems with pesky unions over the past forever years. Recently, Walmart
suddenly closed five mega stores, which they said was because of "plumbing issues" but seemed to coincide with
union activities in those stores.
The video starts with the usual Walmart signage and the obligatory image of a Latino woman restocking shelves from a carry basket (because that's how restocking shelves is usually done ... it's as easy as a person carrying a basket with three things in it who walks around a Walmart megastore and then isn't fired for being the worst working person in the history of working). A voiceover explaining how Walmart is a great job with great opportunities. People that work at Walmart are called "associates." They use the word "associates" so much during the video you can't help but start to feel like you're entering into a cult—not a coincidence.
Did you know you can become a shareholder in Walmart? Yes you can. This is because "Mr. Sam" strongly believed in "the philosophy of the partnership with associates."
Mr. Sam!
Mr. Sam is Sam Walton, founder and all-around-associate-loving billionaire who passed on his love of giving back to the community
to his heirs.
The video goes on to reveal the woman who has been talking the whole time. She tells us she never thought she would be a shareholder in a big company like Walmart but she is! And so is the next guy (seen at the top of this diary). "Justin", as his nametag suggests, is also a shareholder and he thinks you've made a great choice working for any one of the Walmart stores or businesses (Sam's Club et al). But, Justin warns:
You aren't the only one looking to get your foot in the door at Walmart.
Labor unions. You might have heard about them. Well, Walmart's going to tell you some things about unions. They spend "millions" trying to get a union into Walmart and Walmart "associates" have said time and time again that they
do not want unions. The video goes on to point out the problems with unions. Highlights include:
- Unions start boycotts of Walmart. How can they be for workers if they're against the business that the workers are working for? (The Walmart actor says "she doesn't get it." Neither do I, Walmart actor-lady.)
- It turns out unions are multi-million dollar businesses that make their money by "convincing people like you and me to give them part of our paychecks."
- An actor who was forced to join a union in his last job tells us the only thing he remembers about his union was that the union took money from his paycheck before he even saw it—
like TAXES!!!!
BOOOOOO! TAXES!!!!
- Walmart's "stance on all of this" is that they are "pro-associate."
- "Every job has its ups and downs and a union can't change that."
- Unions will ask you to give them information about yourself so they can send you more information about unions. They may promise you wage increases and free health care.
"DON'T BE FOOLED, YOUR SIGNATURE IS VERY VALUABLE."
That all-caps quote was their answer to the promises a union organizer might make to you to get you to sign a petition or a document saying you want a union. If you give them a signature you cannot take it back!
Good luck with your new career!
UPDATED: with video below the fold.
