A senior associate for Mercury Public Affairs handling its Wal-Mart account is no longer with the firm after she posed as a journalism student at an event urging workers at the retailer to unionize.
Harnett (Photo: WWU) |
Stephanie Harnett told warehouse workers at a June 6 press conference she was a journalism student and gave the name “Zoe Mitchell” before interviewing an attendee. A week later at another press conference, she revealed her identity, according to Warehouse Workers United, a union-backed group, which posted a picture of the 26-year-old PR staffer at the union event on its website.
“The action taken by Ms. Harnett was in no way approved, authorized, or directed by Walmart or Mercury,” said a statement from Mercury. “Stephanie is a junior member of our team who made an immature decision. She showed very poor judgment and Mercury takes full responsibility. We are taking the necessary disciplinary actions. This is an isolated incident that has never happened before and will not happen again.”
Wal-Mart tapped Mercury for a $60K pact as it hopes to build a Los Angeles store in the city’s Chinatown neighborhood, where opposition has sparked in the labor and political community.
Wal-Mart also criticized Harnett’s conduct in a statement. “Our culture of integrity is a constant at Walmart and by not properly identifying herself, this individual’s behavior was contrary to our values and the way we do business,” said Steve Restivo, senior director of community affairs.