Both Tyson Foods and RWDSU seemed a bit surprised by the vitriolic community response to a negotiated contract that addressed both worker and employer concerns.

Kim Bobo, Religion Dispatches

On Friday, August 1, the Shelbyville Times-Gazette ran a story entitled "Tyson drops Labor Day holiday for Eid al-Fitr" that unleashed a firestorm of anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment, both of which seem far too prevalent for a nation built by immigrants and priding itself on the freedom of religion.

The story was based on an a press release from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announcing that its new contract included a paid holiday for Eid al-Fitr, which is the most important Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Eid al-Fitr, often called just Eid, is as important to Muslims as Christmas or Easter is to most Christians. The Times-Gazette article explained that the negotiated contract gave workers Eid as a holiday in place of Labor Day.

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Associated Press

The AFL-CIO and three other labor-rights groups have asked the Federal Election Commission to investigate whether Wal-Mart Stores Inc. unlawfully pressured employees to vote against Democrats in November because their party would help workers to unionize.

The groups — which include Change to Win, American Rights at Work and WakeUpWalMart.com — say in a complaint processed on Friday with the FEC that "there is reason to believe" Wal-Mart broke federal election rules by advocating against Democratic candidate Barack Obama in meetings with employees.

The labor organizations based their complaint on a report earlier this month from The Wall Street Journal. The report said Wal-Mart held mandatory meetings with store managers and department supervisors to warn that if Democrats prevail this fall, they would likely push through a bill that the company says would hurt workers.

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Big Box Swindle - The True Cost Of Mega-Retailers ~ Stacy Mitchell
Reviewed in thegoodhuman.com

Why Are Democrats Taking Money From Wal-Mart?, Jonathan Tasini, Working Life

Anyone who doesn’t think this is a country where the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer needs to check the numbers—this is Bush country, where a rising tide lifts all yachts.

Molly Ivins, TruthDig.com

Evergreene Digest Editor's Note: Yes, I know they raised the minimum wage since this column was written. Molly's points are still valid.

I don’t get it. What’s the percentage in keeping the minimum wage at $5.15 an hour? After nine years? This is such an unnecessary and nasty Republican move. Congress has voted seven times to raise its own wages since last the minimum wage budged. Of course, Congress always raises its own salary in the dark of night, hoping no one will notice. But now it does the same with the minimum wage hike, quietly killing it.

Anyone who doesn’t think this is a country where the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer needs to check the numbers—this is Bush country, where a rising tide lifts all yachts.

According to the current (July or August, 2006) issue of Mother Jones:

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Lynn Brenner, Newsday

Submitted by Evergreene Digest Contributing Editor Ken Mitchell

I worked for 22 years at an assisted-living facility on Long Island. I developed many close relationships with my fellow employees, with residents, even with residents' families. Then the facility was taken over by new owners. A few months ago, a new administrator told me my salary was to be cut by almost 50 percent. Then, about six weeks ago, she called me into her office and told me I was fired. For the first time, I had to apply for unemployment compensation. I received it for two weeks and then was told the payments were stopping because my former employer said I had quit. Nothing could be further from the truth; even after the salary cut, I intended to stay. I know there will be a hearing about this - but what if they continue to lie?

W.R., via e-mail

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Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has operations in 15 countries, many of which have at least some employees that are union members. The US is the clear exception.

Andrew McLemore, The Raw Story

Submitted by Evergreene Digest Contributing Editor Ken Mitchell

The first Wal-Mart trade union in China was formed after the company bowed to government demands for organized labor in its stores, The New York Times reported Friday.

Wal-Mart's reluctance to allow unions, particularly in the United States where they remain banned from stores, has been a point of controversy for many years. But the government-controlled All-China Federation of Trade Unions fought for the right to create branches in the company's 60 outlets.

Beth Keck, director of international corporate affairs for Wal-Mart, said she was aware of the reports of Chinese unions forming and said the company hopes to have a "cordial and productive relationship" with the federation.

"We know they have been interested in having a relationship with our company for some time," Keck said. "We will, of course, be looking forward to how this will evolve."

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Related:

Factory to the world will soon get the right to strike, Venkatesan Vembu, Daily News and Analysis
“We are only a step away from the right to strike,” exults Chen. “The paper-thin barrier can be breached.”