Unions are protesting the building of a Wal-Mart supercenter in Chicago because they claim it will threaten unionized jobs. Union leaders argue that Wal-Mart is known for being anti-union and say that they will use their influence to oppose the development of the store. The United Food & Commercial Workers Union has been trying to organize workers at Wal-Mart for some time. A Wal-Mart spokesman said that the new store would be a positive development, providing 250 jobs and an estimated $600,000 in annual taxes.
See "2 unions gird for battle to bar Wal-Mart", Delroy Alexander, Chicago Tribune, August 7, 2003