Labor

Wal-Mart: Low Prices, PR Triage

by Jonathan Rosenblum — April 5, 2006 - 7:56am

Sam Walton just might be spinning in his grave. He was said to detest public relations, preferring to let Wal-Mart products and services speak for themselves. Under the new regime, PR has taken on a special urgency, with company officials locking into a political campaign-like "war room" mentality to respond to critics of its labor and big box store siting strategies. Now comes word that the company is looking for "triage" and "emergency response" talent in its next key hires.

Main Source: 
New York Times, March 30, 2006

Coal Miners' Slaughter

by Diane Farsetta — March 6, 2006 - 10:48am

U.S. coal industry lobbyists have "resumed a longstanding effort to eliminate -- or at least greatly weaken" the federal requirement for four full inspections a year at underground coal mines. Already this year, 21 coal miners have died, including 16 at West Virginia's Sago Mine. Twenty-two miners died in all of 2005. "A decade ago, industry lobbyists and conservative activists" tried to eliminate the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

Main Source: 
The Charleston Gazette (West Virginia), March 5, 2006

Wal-Mart Front Group's New Front Man

by Diane Farsetta — March 2, 2006 - 11:30am

"Black History Month 2006 ended on a jarring note," writes Bruce Dixon. "Andrew Young, a former member of Dr. King's inner circle ... who went on to serve three terms in Congress, a stint as UN ambassador and two terms as mayor of Atlanta ...

Main Source: 
The Black Commentator, March 2, 2006

Bad Data, and Compromised Limits, on Chromium

by Diane Farsetta — February 28, 2006 - 1:15pm

"This was a 10-year campaign to shape the science to fit the industry's agenda rather than shape the regulation to fit the science," Professor David Michaels said of industry attempts to avoid lower exposure limits for hexavalent chromium. In 2004, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed reducing the exposure limit set in 1943 more than fifty-fold.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, February 24, 2006

The "Center for Union Facts" Is Rick Berman's Newest Fiction

by John Stauber — February 13, 2006 - 10:15am

On February 13, full-page advertisements in the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, along with a media stunt involving a dinosaur, announced a new union-bashing front group called Center for Union Facts.

Main Source: 
UnionFacts.com, February 13, 2006

Environmental Defense or Nanotech Defense?

by Bob Burton — January 18, 2006 - 10:38am
  • Topics: Corporations, Environment, Health, International, Labor

    • If you have concerns about the development of nanotechnology, you might want to keep an eye on the 'partnership' between the chemical industry giant DuPont and Environmental Defense (ED), the New York-based environmental group.

    The project, according to a joint media release issued in October 2005 by ED's Fred Krupp and DuPont's Chad Halliday, is to "identify, manage and reduce potential health, safety and environmental risks of nano-scale materials across all lifecycle stages." Once developed, the framework will "then be pilot-tested on specific nano-scale materials or applications of commercial interest to DuPont."

    To be fair, ED has flagged concerns about there being inadequate health and environmental assessments of nanotechnologies to date. However, ED hasn't mentioned publicly what they think about DuPont and other companies having products that are already on the market without such assessments.

    Cold Comfort from a Coal Baron

    by Diane Farsetta — January 5, 2006 - 6:16pm

    The PR firm Dix & Eaton "is serving as 'media coordinator' for International Coal Group, the owner of the Sago Mine in West Virginia in which a dozen miners lost their lives," reports O'Dwyer's. The U.S.

    Main Source: 
    O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), January 5, 2006

    Pat Boone and Wal-Mart: Ain't That a Shame

    by Diane Farsetta — December 22, 2005 - 5:39pm

    Working Families for Wal-Mart, a new nonprofit group "partly funded by the Bentonville-based retail giant," has "a mission to support Wal-Mart Stores Inc." and "famously wholesome singer Pat Boone" is a member.

    Main Source: 
    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, December 22, 2005

    You Don't Deserve Labor Rights Today

    by Diane Farsetta — December 20, 2005 - 2:23pm

    After its protests "forced Taco Bell to pay tomato pickers a penny more per pound," the Florida-based Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) started "pressuring McDonald's for a similar agreement." Instead, McDonald's joined the "Socially Accountable Farm Employer (SAFE) voluntary certification program." Launched in November 2005, SAFE is run by board members of the industry group Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association and

    Main Source: 
    AlterNet / The NewStandard, December 20, 2005
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