AFL-CIO faults Wal-Mart for undermining supply chain security

AFL-CIO faults Wal-Mart for undermining supply chain security    The nation’s biggest labor organization Wednesday accused the nation’s largest retailer of using a trade lobbying group to stall measures to improve security at ports.
   The AFL-CIO issued a report that said Wal-Mart has used its clout within the Retail Industry Leaders Association to beat back government security measures after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that would cost the company money and cut into profits.
   RILA has opposed the introduction of container seals and sensors, regular inspections of corporate supply chain practices around the world, tougher rules for advance provision of cargo information and user fees for port security, the union group said.
   The AFL-CIO said Wal-Mart has given about $250,000 in political contributions to the current members of the House and Senate Homeland Security committees in the past eight years.
   RILA has opposed government-mandated user fees to cover security grants for ports, but its members pay security fees assessed by individual ports and vessel carriers. The organization has also supported the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, which gives expedited cargo clearance to companies who have had some of their foreign suppliers audited for following minimum security criteria.
   As for high-tech container seals and other devices, RILA said in written testimony submitted to a Senate Homeland Security subcommittee last week that any device approved by the government for security purposes must be reliable.
   “We must be wary of adopting technological solutions that merely create a false sense of security — too much is at stake to put our trust behind cosmetic, ‘feel good’ security measures,” RILA said.