Clinton defends labor unions as essential

NEW YORK, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton says she no longer shares Wal-Mart's anti-union views and believes that labor unions "have been essential to our nation's success."

The New York Democrat and presidential contender, in a 6-year stint on the retail giant's board of directors, reportedly made no defense of labor unions attempting to organize Wal-Mart workers, ABC News said during its "Good Morning, America" broadcast.

As a presidential candidate, Clinton has been endorsed by more than a dozen unions, according to her campaign Web site biography which makes no reference to Wal-Mart.

ABC said she declined to be interviewed on the subject for the broadcast.

Wal-Mart's anti-union efforts reportedly were headed by one of Clinton's fellow board members, John Tate, a Wal-Mart executive vice president.

He was fond of repeating, "Labor unions are nothing but blood-sucking parasites living off the productive labor of people who work for a living," ABC said.

The company said Tate's comments "were his own and do not reflect Wal-Mart's views."