Perhaps Thomas can refresh my memory on this, but wasn't there a grocery strike in CA that had as one of its concerns the effect that an incoming Walmart would have on wages?

I also believe I recall hearing that attempts to organize Wal-Mart workers have failed because Wal-Mart ensures that such attempts meet with, er, repercussions for those who attempt it.

Ah, here's a link for you -- happened right in your backyard too. This site is very illuminating if you go through some ot the other stuff on it.

http://www.ksworkbeat.org/Issues/Walmart_s_Opinon_of_Union_Memb/More_Walmart_Stories/more_walmart_stories.html

So don't imagine the unions aren't working at this, but it's a huge enemy to fight, and the current political climate is not one in which Unions can reasonable expect to gain much ground.