Walmart has reached an agreement with New York City's Building and Construction Trades Council to use union labor in constructing its first store in New York City. The company is scheduled to meet with City Council on Thursday to debate that store, but is not expected to attend. The meeting is expected to bring out many opponents to the store entering the city. The agreement with the construction industry gives Walmart some leverage, but also pits the Trades Council against retail workers' unions, who vehemently oppose Walmart. City Council members asked Walmart to reconsider attending the meeting, but were rebuffed. The Council said that they would hear from supporters, but were very disappointed in the company's decision not to attend.
See "Walmart cuts deal with unions before Thursday hearing in front of City Council", Adam Lisberg, Erin Einhorn and Erin Durkin, New York Daily News, February 2, 2011