Statement by UFCW International President Joe Hansen on Walmart’s Corrupt Business Practices

Posted on April 23, 2012 by jway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 23, 2012
Contact: press@ufcw.org

(Washington, D.C.) – Joe Hansen, International President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and Chair of Change to Win, today released the following statement in response to the New York Times expose of Walmart’s corruption and purported cover-up by senior company officials.

“The New York Times story about the Walmart Mexico corruption scandal and reported cover-up exposes serious violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and demands an immediate and thorough investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.   Walmart senior management exposed its lack of corporate morality and internal ethics to workers, shareholders, consumers and community members.

“Walmart has spent millions of dollars to rehabilitate its image and buy the support of key allies in an effort to break into new markets while making promises about the benefits of its business model. But by pursuing a relentless strategy in the U.S. and abroad of ‘growth at any cost’ in pursuit of profits, Walmart’s senior management has proven that it is willing to trample on worker rights, discriminate against women, damage small businesses and the environment, and now potentially violate laws in the U.S., Mexico and other countries.

“The reported cover-up by Walmart executives at the highest levels exposes a core truth:  Walmart cannot be taken at its word.    A Department of Justice investigation into foreign bribery is an urgently needed first step.  Congress should immediately convene hearings to examine whether Walmart is using these unethical business practices in their U.S. operations.”

The UFCW represents 1.3 million workers, 250,000 in the meatpacking and poultry industries. UFCW members also work in the health care, garment, chemical, distillery and retail industries. For more information about the UFCW’s effort to protect workers’ rights and strengthen America’s middle class, visit www.ufcw.org, or join our online community at http://www.facebook.com/UFCWinternational and www.twitter.com/ufcw.

Comments

  • Anonymous

    Hypocrite. The unions complaining about corruption. Give me a break.

    • Anonymous
      • Anonymous

         (ICCR) is a left wing organization. I put no credence in it, just as I put no credence in Father Flager and Reverend Wright, Obama’s anti white socialist preachers. Unions are the hatemongers. Just look at the filthy language they spew at the peaceful Tea Party Rallies and look at the hate filled rallies they have in WI. as they destroyed the historic capital building and the war memorials to dead veterans. You have a lot of nerve calling anybody else a hatemonger. By the way, you never answered what happened to Jimmy Hoffa, the elder.

      • Anonymous

         Just a few examples of union corruption: People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

        lan L. Axt, ex-vice president of member services for the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1288 Federal Credit Union, pled guilty Sept. 4 to embezzling $277,335 from the financial institution based in Fresno, Cal. Axt admitted before U.S. Dist. Judge Oliver W. Wanger (E.D. Cal.,

        Nebraska union (UFCW) decertified when employees found out what they were making and that union bosses had been convicted of embezzlement or corruption. [Omaha World-Herald 8/16/01]

        Ex-president of United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1262 in New Jersey, Joseph P. Rizzo, Jr., was arrested by federal agents Nov. 29 and charged with soliciting bribes from supermarkets seeking to prevent labor disruptions during the holidays. Reportedly, Rizzo solicited payments from unnamed employees for Foodtown and ShopRite supermarkets over nearly 20 years. In exchange, he allegedly vowed to ensure labor peace and offered one chain favorable treatment when the union was on strike. Rizzo was charged with four counts of conspiracy related to bribery, in a sealed grand jury indictment handed up Nov. 15.

  • guest

    Doesn’t surprise me that the Walmart criminal empire is involved in bribery.

  • Anonymous

    it is time for Walmart Change into United Food and Commercial Workers Unionize Walmart Store for all Walmart Cashier Workers and for all Walmart Produce Workers and for all Walmart Deli Department Workers and for all Walmart Bakery Department Workers. it is time for Walmart Change into Teamster Unionize Walmart Store for all Walmart Truck Drivers Workers and for all Walmart Hardware Department Workers and for all Walmart Gardening Department Workers and for all Walmart Stock Person Workers and for all Walmart Customer Service Desk Workers and for all Walmart Maintenance Association Workers and for all Walmart Courtesy Association Workers and for all Sam’s Club Truck Drivers Workers and for all Sam’s Club Forklift Drivers@Stock Person Workers and for all Sam’s Club Maintenance Workers and for all Sam’s Club Cashier Workers and for all Sam’s Club Meat Cutter@Meat Wrapper Workers and for all Sam’s Club Produce Workers and for all Sam’s Club Cafe Workers and for all Sam’s Club Bakery Department Workers and for all Sam’s Club Membership Desk Workers and for all Sam’s Club Lot Attendant Workers. it is time for Walmart Change into Communication Workers of America Unionize Walmart Store for all Walmart Electronics Workers and for all Sam’s Club Electronics Workers. it is time for Walmart Change into United Healthcare Workers Unionize Walmart Store for all Walmart Pharmacy Workers and for all Sam’s Club Pharmacy Workers.it is time for Walmart Change into United Auto Workers Unionize Walmart Store for all Walmart Tire@Lube Express Workers and for all Sam’s Club Tire@Vehicle Installment Workers right of away and right now please by make Walmart give all Walmart Workers and all Sam’s Club Workers a Living Wage With Affordable Healthcare without close down all the Walmart Store and without close down all the Sam’s Wholesale Club.

    Thank You Very Much United Food And Commercial Workers Union and Teamster Union And Making Change At Walmart And OUR Walmart And Walmart Watch And Employee Free Choice Act For Trying Make Walmart A Better Place To Work For All Walmart Workers And For All Sam’s Club Workers From Tom P Noonan

  • GIJoe

    Let me see, Rackeetering in workmans comp, Bribery in Mexico and funded from Bentonville. Internation compact of fraud, FICA FRAUD, SOCIAL SECURITY UNDERPAYING, UNPAID TAX FRAUD. UNDER REPORTING FRAUD, INVENTORY FLOAT FRAUD, ACCOUNTING FRAUD.
    WAGE AND HOUR FRAUD. WHICH DEFRAUDS THE STATES AND FEDERAL TAX COFFERS,
    KILLED YOUR PETS WITH POSION FOOD, KILLED YOU COUNTRY WITH POSIONED ETHICS.
    Slave owners, engaqged in criminal conduct world wide. Why is this company not broken up yeat.
                                     “Mr. OBAMA PLEASE TEAR DOWN THIS WAL”

  • MarkAndersH

    Perhaps Wal Mart is run by Ferengi!  It would explain A LOT!