After years of opposing unions in the United States and around the world, Wal-Mart Stores said this week that it would allow a union at its operations in China. But the decision appears to reflect a bow to Chinese law more than a change in Wal-Mart's approach to unionization worldwide. And perhaps just as important, unions have a different role in China: they work in close concert with management - that is, when they are not the management itself - and traditionally with the Communist Party. [also refers to Dell, Samsung]