The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union wants nothing less than 100 percent.
Working through one of its national campaigns, WakeUpWalMart.com, the group wants to hold Wal-Mart accountable for its business actions. At the Inner Harbor on Thursday the local 27 chapter of the UFCW, along with WakeUpWalMart.com, took Wal-Mart to task for the mega-retailers stance on a piece of port security legislation in Congress.
The groups, joined by the Maryland chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, voiced displeasure with Wal-Mart?s opposition to a bill that would require security to check 100 percent of the containers that come through the port.
“There has to be tighter and better security,” said Brian Nesbit, organizer of the Baltimore rally for the UFCW Local 27. “We have an opportunity to make sure that we have secure ports and to take care of them.”
Wal-Mart, which spent more than $760 million in Maryland during 2006, views the UFCW?s attack through both advertisements and news conferences nationwide as unwarranted.
As of February, Bentonville, Ark-based Wal-Mart employed more than 15,650 people in Maryland.
“Wal-Mart is proud of our efforts to ensure a more secure supply chain and we will continue to play a central role into finding real solutions to enhance cargo security,” Wal-Mart spokesman Robert Traynham said. “This union-funded ad is in poor taste and an irresponsible attempt to avoid facts, play upon people?s fears and disparage our company and the 127 million Americans that shop our stores every week.”
Port officials view the issue as being one that will require both sides, and the legislature, to find a common ground.
“We are in favor for as high a percentage as practical, but the key is finding the right balance between effective and efficient trade and security and that balance is critical so to not negatively impact the flow of commerce,” port spokesman Richard Scher said.
By the end of April, the Port of Baltimore expects to be screening 100 percent of its incoming containers for radiation or radioactive materials.
