Does anyone know whether Target still bans the Salvation Army bell ringers from their properties?
Beyond the Christmas boycott (which I observe scrupulously) that is a very big item on my boycott list.
I have worked with the Salvation Army during disasters and no one is on site earlier and no one does it better. An awesome organization.
I might add, during WWII, when the Red Cross was in back of the front lines by 20 miles or so, the Salvation Army was at the front lines delivering hot coffee and doughnuts to the troops within a few hundred yards of the German lines. Hot doughnuts, BTW.
Target banned the Salvation Army bell ringers (along with some malls and some other chains which have since gone out of business) on the advice of legal counsel.
It is basically all about remaining non-union. Most retailers have a blanket non-solicitation on the premises policy to keep union organizers out of the building.
If you make one exception, even for something as altruistic as the Salvation Army, the UFCW is liable to come down on you with a ton of lawyers and demand equal treatment.
There is a bell ringer outside my local WalMart, so apparently they are willing to take that risk. But many aren’t. I know Target recently fought a big anti-union battle in it’s home state of Minnesota.
I understand that the reason Target, Walmart, Home Depot... do not allow ANY solicitation on their premises is because of the unions. It’s a legal thing, they have a blanket policy: No Solicitation. If they even allow Girl Scout cookies, it opens the door for open union solicitation.
So that unfortunately includes many good organizations such as the Salvation Army.