Tuesday, November 23, 2004
TARGETING UNIONS?
Reader Tim P. writes to inform us that Target may have banned the Salvation Army from soliciting in order to fend off any attempts by unions to solicit its employees. The law may require that if an employer allows one type of solicitation (charitable), it has to allow other types. National Review Online's The Corner has some speculation to this effect, including one post pointing out that the National Labor Relations Board issued an opinion letter along these lines shortly after 9/11 regarding charitable solicitations arising from that event.
This is not my area of expertise, but if correct, consumer dissatisfaction won't be enough to sway Target. Hugh Hewitt has been getting input from "financial types" on how to judge whether anger at Target's decision is having an effect on sales. He'll need to balance this against the potential costs of Target going union (Walmart's stock fell 36 cents to $55.37 after an adverse ruling on this issue in 2003) to get the full picture.
UPDATE: The National Association of Convenience Stores says:
This is not my area of expertise, but if correct, consumer dissatisfaction won't be enough to sway Target. Hugh Hewitt has been getting input from "financial types" on how to judge whether anger at Target's decision is having an effect on sales. He'll need to balance this against the potential costs of Target going union (Walmart's stock fell 36 cents to $55.37 after an adverse ruling on this issue in 2003) to get the full picture.
UPDATE: The National Association of Convenience Stores says:
NACS supported an amendment offered by Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R-AR) last Congress that would have allowed retailers to open their doors to charitable organization without fear of unionization. That amendment failed by a vote of 40-59.Hey Hugh! Do you really want to put pressure on Target go union? Seems unusually blue of you...
