Hillary, Wal-Mart and the Union Vote

Stephen Braun has an interesting article in the online edition of the Chicago Tribune where he highlights Hillary's service on the Wal-Mart board of directors. That wouldn't really be all that interesting except that Wal-Mart doesn't pay it's frontline staff exceptionally well, doesn't provide white-collar type benefits, and will stop at nothing to prevent a union from organizing.

So exactly what did Hillary do to help out the unions during her term on the Wal-Mart board? Absolutely nothing:

Former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. board members and executives recall Clinton as a politically nimble insider who cautiously tried to nudge the company toward hiring more female executives and environmentally friendly practices, to limited effect, while remaining silent as Wal-Mart pursued anti-union strategies.

...

The New York senator's former relationship with the company poses a mixed blessing for her presidential run. The phenomenal growth of Wal-Mart's empire across the country has been a boon to consumers, but it has also drawn fierce fire from labor organizers who accuse the retail behemoth of union-busting tactics, poor wages and healthcare benefits, and mistreatment of female workers.

In the intervening years, Hillary has gone from a Wal-Mart booster to a politician who has refused contributions from their lobbyist. Coincidentally, just in time for a presidential run.The point is not that HIllary should have used her position to launch a union crusade during that time. Clearly that was not going to happen. The point is that Hillary was not deeply concerned about labor unions and Wal-Mart. At least not concerned enough to turn down a nice gig that would enhance her resume and that's not all:
Clinton's board appointment provided a welcome income boost. Clinton's compensation as a Rose partner had diminished after her husband became governor and she was forced to curtail her lucrative legal work before state agencies. Wal-Mart paid her $18,000 a year, $1,500 for each meeting she attended and steady increments of stock that eventually totaled 1,600 shares.
And that is the point. Hillary's not concerned about Unions. She's concerned about Hillary and always has been. When it was to her advantage to make nice with the corporate fascists of Wally-world, she did. And now it's to her advantage to be labor's best friend, and so she is.

This is not exactly a big deal, in fact, it's nowhere near a big deal, but it is one more piece of evidence that this is all about Hillary. Labor may end up supporting Hillary, and they can probably be assured that their interests will be aligned for the foreseeable future. But they can also be assured that when push comes to shove, Hillary will throw labor under the bus.

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