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Wal-Mart's Everyday Low Wages

Sun, 02/29/2004 - 19:38 — withrow

http://edworkforce.house.gov/democrats/WALMARTREPORT.pdf

It's a partisan tract and the work of a committee, but it's very readable and essential reading. Some important facts:

In the supermarket industry, unionized workers make 30% than non-union workers. The average supermarket clerk makes $10.35 per hour while sales clerks average $8.23 at Wal-Mart. Benefits like pensions and health care are much better for unionized workers, too.

Wal-Mart is facing multiple class action suits alleging that they made employees work off the clock. They've violated child labor laws and made employees miss breaks and meals. There have been a huge number of Unfair Labor Practice charges concerning union organizing at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has also gotten into trouble with the the federal government-- and this is not an administration that picks fights with big corporations-- for violating the Trading with the Enemies Act and for knowingly using contractors who rely on illegal aliens.

This giant's cheap labor policies shift costs onto taxpayers. Reduced-price school lunches, Section 8 housing assistance, earned-income tax credits, and health costs are some of the examples of how Wal-Mart soaks taxpayers because the wages they pay keep their employees eligible for those programs for the working poor. Meanwhile, their unionized competitors are paying middle-class wages.

And then there's Wal-Mart's exportation of jobs. The report estimates that 50-60% of its products now come from overseas. The multinational has formed a partnership with Communist China's cheap labor government and now purchases 10% of that nations U.S.-bound exports.

Anyway, I could go on and on, but the long and short of this is that organizing unions at Wal-Mart should be a major priority and I hope that once we organize the bookselling industry, we'll learn lessons we can take to that behemoth.

‹ Cinema Workers Organize! Wal-Mart and Thanksgiving ›
Mon, 03/01/2004 - 04:31 — Notyourfriend

Of course, your missing the point.

The whole reason Walmart is able to get away with this is because people still shop there.

Americans want everything Fast, Cheap, and Easy.
Having things like guns to golf clubs all under one roof merely satisfies many American consumeristic appetites fast, cheap, and easily.

So, if you really want to stop this beast of a business, stop shopping there. Of course, this means that you will pay more for the same items that would cost less if bought from there. And in a down-trodden economy, such as ours, that's hard to ask people to do.

I believe that the economics that go along with a Walmart have already been touched upon, so I'll end the reality check right here.

Mon, 03/01/2004 - 13:34 — Ozymandias

That's what we can do about it. Anyone out there shopping at Wal-Mart is definately part of the problem.
What Wal-Mart has to offer, we don't need. There are thrift shops everywhere if prices are your main concern. I found pants at the local thrift shop with the original tags still on them (thanks to someone who bought what they didn't need, apparently.)

That most of Wal-Mart's workers need other jobs or welfare supplements to survive is a travesty.

Mon, 03/01/2004 - 15:33 — withrow

Notyourfriend, I have stopped shopping at Wal-Mart and still they're bulding new stores.

Not shopping at Wal-Mart is one thing we can do. The other thing is that the government can insist that Wal-Mart pay its own way. Higher minimum wages and stronger laws to protect union organizers would go a long way toward solving the problem.

A unionized Wal-Mart would move tens of thousands of employees from working poor to the middle class, from being net receivers of government benefits to being net taxpayers.

Mon, 03/01/2004 - 21:44 — Ozymandias

Here's a great blog on the subject:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/04/02/21_connections.html

Tue, 03/02/2004 - 06:06 — morcant

Quote:
Americans want everything Fast, Cheap, and Easy.
Having things like guns to golf clubs all under one roof merely satisfies many American consumeristic appetites fast, cheap, and easily.

Fast - the stores are so huge that in the time it takes to walk all the way from gardening to grocery, you could easily go support your local businesses instead.

Cheap - think of the 20 cents you're saving as 20 cents taken away from an American worker at an American manufacturer.

Easy - it's just as easy to go anywhere else, so I don't see why this is a benefit. I think it's much easier to find things in a smaller store anyway.

I'm not perfect, I've been there quite a few times, but I didn't really feel like I saved that much. I realize there are Americans working there too (who should be treated better), but Walmart is driving smaller stores out and taking away something else we value which is CHOICE.

Sun, 10/19/2008 - 01:49 — wilksann

To: Anyone who loves or cares about a wal-mart associate.

5 MINUTES COULD MAKE SOME PEOPLES HOLIDAYS BRIGHTER!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHORT STORY, if you love a Wal-Mart associate and are mad that they have to work Thanksgiving day, please

use this link to send a letter to Wal-Marts executives telling them that it is not ok for them to ruin

your Thanksgiving for greed. Please use your name though or they will not take you seriously. We need you to

help them, because the (associates) are not allowed to complain. http://walmartstores.com/contactus/feedback.aspx

It is best if complaints go to corporate office not the local store. (it should ask).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LONG STORY:

Hello!

Thank you for taking the time to read this important email.

As most of you probably know by now, Wal-Marts in many places will be

open on Thanksgiving day for the first time this year. (Some stores like

Supercenters have been open on Thanksgiving for years.) Many of the

Associates working in these stores have always had Thanksgiving off to

spend with their families before the busiest shopping day of the year, the

next day, black Friday. After black Friday, the stores are very busy until

Xmas, so family time is difficult at best. Now these same associates are

being told THEY MUST work on Thanksgiving. For many of these

Wal-Mart assoc. there is no where they can safely complain and no

one sticking up for them. When they applied they didnt know one day

Wal-Mart would take away this important family holiday. What is

next?

In fact when Helen Walton was alive, (Sam Waltons wife) she told

Wal-Mart she did not think Associates should have to work

Thanksgiving. It was a family time. But she is gone.

Some states are not allowing Wal-Mart to do this, Massachusetts

for one is not letting Wal-Mart do this. Go Mass! (Mass people

we could still use your help!)

Well I for one love two wal-mart associates, my daughter and my

nephew. I want to spend Thanksgiving with them. If I can not

wal-mart will not only be ruining their holiday they will be ruining

mine too. They say my daughter can work a short shift, before

6pm. Hello? When should she do her cooking and still eat warm

with her family? Do they know how long it takes to make Turkeys

and Pies? What about the Associate who needs to travel a few

hours to get to her folks home like a friend of mine? How will

she see his family at all, esp when he has to be in bed early to go in

for 5am the next day?

I do not care if Wal-Mart chooses to be open on Thanksgiving, but

telling people they MUST work on that day is wrong. Ask for

volunteers perhaps but do not hurt my family on Thanksgiving Day.

Lastly, even though Wal-Mart has an open door policy about

complaints, in truth most associates do not trust it, are afraid to

use it, or it doesnt help them. In some stores (here anyway) it is

expected that associates WILL NOT complain about policy

changes or they will be seen as poor team playes and in some

cases reprimanded.

If you care about a Wal-Mart associate PLEASE help!

Use this link to send a letter to Wal-Marts executives telling them that it is not ok for them to ruin

your Thanksgiving for greed. Please use your name though or they will not take you seriously. We need you to

help them, because the (associates) are not allowed to complain. But they must listen to us!

THE CUSTOMERS! Imagine, there are something like 200 million wal-mart associates, wich means

there are a lot MORE of us, friends, family, and people who care! Lets make a difference in someones

holiday! Go to:

http://walmartstores.com/contactus/feedback.aspx

It is best if complaints go to corporate office not the local store. (it should ask).

Thank you so much!

Ann

Derry, New Hampshire