"At this time, we're not going to make any response," John McHugh, director of corporate communications for the La Crosse, Wis.-based convenience retailer told the newspaper.
A coalition of teachers, police officers and firefighters last week added Kwik Trip to its list [image-nocss] of companies it is targeting for a boycott. (Click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage.)
The unions sent the letter to Kwik Trip and to M&I Bank, saying they would "publicly and formally boycott" the two Wisconsin companies if their executives did not come out against Governor Scott Walker's bill by March 17. M&I Bank said last week it is not taking a position, said the report.
McHugh said Kwik Trip has fielded quite a few phone calls and emails, both in support of the proposed boycott and opposed, but did not know how many.
"We've been taking all the calls as fast as we can and listening to all the concerns," he said. "We certainly understand the emotional reaction that's coming on both sides." He said revenue figures are not being disclosed.
McHugh said Kwik Trip officials are "confused" about why the convenience store company was targeted. Employees contributed to the campaigns of both Scott Walker (R) and his Democratic opponent, Tom Barrett, in last November's election and received no direction on political contributions from the company, the report said.
"We're a Wisconsin-based, family-owned business. We employ over 6,000 people in this state, and profits come back to our co-workers, all of whom are middle-class; 46% of pre-tax profits come back to us coworkers," McHugh told the paper.
"While unions have chosen to boycott businesses that create Wisconsin jobs and employ hardworking Wisconsin middle-class citizens, Gov. Walker has chosen to promote the private-sector job creators that are going to help get Wisconsin working again. Gov. Walker will continue to stand up and fight for the middle-class taxpayers that are employed at these businesses all across our state," Cullen Werwie, Walker's spokesperson, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, a group called Wisconsin Buycott has thrown its support behind Kwik Trip on Facebook.
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