Because I Hate Wal-Mart

5 Comments

1. sydwynd (85 comments.)
   Posted March 25, 2008 at 8:31 pm | Permalink

   While I totally hate Wal-Mart and think they ruin the markets they enter (I get no good deals at the supermarket any more), this ad I take with a grain of salt due to the source. I’m not anti-union, but this particular union has been pissed for a long time that they can’t organize Wal-Mart employees. Not because Wal-Mart prevents them, but because the employees keep voting the union down. Because the workers don’t see the value in paying the high union dues at the wage they’re earning.

   But I don’t want to get into a rant about labor unions in the US and how they may be hurting employees more than helping them.

2. Jennyjinx
   Posted March 25, 2008 at 9:17 pm | Permalink

   Vince,
   Feel free to rant away. You know you’re welcome. Of course, with this particular rant I’ll have to argue against you instead of with you.

   Unions have been able to infiltrate Wallyworld, but Wallyworld has gone so far as to eliminate job positions that were unionized (butchers) and close entire stores that unionized (in Canada). Not only that, but I know for a fact that if a member of management even thinks that an employee is speaking with union reps that manager will find a reason to fire that employee.

   Going even further, Wal-Mart’s propaganda department focuses on the not-so-informed employee in making the case against unions. They prey on their fear of paying dues (as opposed to low wages and wage caps, which is another story) and use that fear to encourage employees to spy on other employees. They use lies and fear to keep control over their employees.

   When I worked there (Ah, now you see) there was a wage policy change. At one time employees received pay increases based on a percentage scale. A good report from your department manager and you could get up to a 5% raise. So, employee A who makes $10 would get a 50¢ raise. The company then changed policy. Now, an employee could get a 5, 10, or 25¢ raise. Employee A is officially screwed.

   BUT the way the company spinned it, the employees were excited about this new policy. The managers hyped it up to seem like it was beneficial to the employees. How is getting a quarter less an hour beneficial?

   Then we’ve the wage cap. After a certain period of time, job titles have their wages capped, so if they earned that 25¢ raise too bad so sad. Instead of rewarding long term employees, they’ve taken away their ability to earn money (even cost of living raises). Not only that, but they’ve made it policy to eliminate 70% of full time positions- which would eliminate an employees ability to get their shitty medical insurance (it’s not available to part-time employees which is anyone who works under 40 hours per week). It’s cheaper for them to hire new employees who would come in at the starting wage, than to pay their long-term employees wages they earned through loyalty to their company.

   They do whatever they can to eliminate their competition and bully manufacturers to get the cheapest prices on goods (effectively causing a lot of manufacturing jobs to leave Ohio and the U.S. for cheaper labor), cause people to lose jobs and then act as if those same people should be thankful that Wal-Mart will hire them. That 70% of imported goods (mostly from China) is not an exaggeration. There is proof to back that up.

   Did I mention that I hate Wal-Mart?

   By the way, I can dig up cites for all of my assertions, if you really need them. Also, please know that I’m simply debating passionately and am in no way taking this (or giving) personally. It’s all about my High Hate of all things Wallyworld.

3. Jennyjinx
   Posted March 25, 2008 at 9:21 pm | Permalink

   P.S.
   I highly recommend a visit to the posts listed under “Related Posts” (above the comments area) to see some of my feelings toward the Walton Demon. Just in case you missed ‘em.

4. nat (19 comments.)
   Posted March 26, 2008 at 10:44 am | Permalink

   I hate Wally World, too, but they are not the only ones who sell such a high number of Chinese goods. Still, Wally used to brag about their buying American practice, which ended up being more of a theory than a practice. I know a few former Wally employees, too, mostly women, and they ran like hell when they could.

   I have many uncles/cousins who worked in labor unions, mostly in the auto industry in Michigan and Indiana. I get angry at those who constantly vilify union efforts. The workers want to make a decent living and have benefits, just like most of the rest of us. Yes, it’s true they sometimes want too much, and that’s what gets news attention.

   The CEO’s and CFO’s and people in high positions in the big auto companies were accustomed to the high life, but we’d rather whine about those damn unions. Yep, those union people caused the decline of the whole industry! Let them eat cake.

5. Vince (94 comments.)
   Posted March 26, 2008 at 10:33 pm | Permalink

   No worries, I don’t take it personal.

   I totally agree with you that Wal-Mart is totally evil in it’s practices, both in squeezing vendors and their treatment of employees. As a company on its own, I think they totally suck.

   My issue with unions is a little more general. I primarily see the auto, electrical, and teachers unions practices as that’s where my experience is. While I don’t begrudge the union members their benefits, it makes me sick how they get all these great benefits and the real person that pays is the consumer. Why is an American car so expensive? Cost of labor and benefits. Why are school districts struggling with huge budgets? Teachers benefits (like full medical and pensions). Why is it that my kids have so many days off from school for no good reason (like superintendent’s days)? Union rules. I don’t begrudge teachers the wages they get. I think they should be paid as well as we can afford. But why should I have to scape to save to retire AND pay for their retirement as well?

   Sorry, I probably got off on a tangent.