To keep everyone aware of the monster that is Wal-Mart

You wonder why they block the unions. You wonder why they don't care if a supplier goes out of business.

Know why?

They are anti-American, that's why.

"People ask, 'How can it be bad for things to come into the U.S. cheaply? How can it be bad to have a bargain at Wal-Mart?' Sure, it's held inflation down, and it's great to have bargains," says Dobbins. "But you can't buy anything if you're not employed. We are shopping ourselves out of jobs."


http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

My car has "a few" pro union stickers on it. A couple of years ago I was at a conference and my motel "shared" a lot with the local Walmart. I parked my car, went up to my room, and was much amused when I looked out the window to see a couple of Walmart guys standing there looking at my car and looking around for the person from the car. I wondered if they were gonna have it towed, and I was ready to chew some rumps if it was. My car was left unmolested, however.

Other than that one time, my car will NEVER be on a Walmart lot. I was just having a chat about that, in fact, last night with the meat cutter at the Schnucks where I shop. He made the observation that Walmart might have low prices but the employees pay for that with lower wages. He was telling me about a dust-up the meat cutters had with Walmart where the Walmart company CLOSED the Walmart store rather than allow the meat cutters to organize there.



Laura

and that was to get a gift card for friends after one of the Florida Hurricanes two years ago since the only thing standing near them was Wally World.

When I approached the powers-that-be and asked to be provided the security tape of who had purposefully struck my car, I was told the tape didn't catch anything (in the same conversation, as if someone had already checked). I drove from there straight to the police station and reported (this isn't your typical door ding -- it's a HUGE dent and scrap as if someone repeatedly hit my vehicle with their door). The police went to the Wally World only to learn that the tape covering that portion of the lot was missing.

My firm belief is that someone took exception to my bumperstickers, but I can't prove a damn thing.

The only thing I actually buy there are insulin syringes because they're $12 at WM and over $30 in the pharmacy. When you don't have insurance...

But I NEVER go into WM unless I'm wearing my union shirt (OPEIU Local 73 based in Jacksonville, but I live in Charleston, SC). And sometimes I just wear the shirt, go in and walk around without buying anything.

A bumper sticker in this area advertising union affiliation would get our car trashed.

http://www.buzzflash.com/?track=9638

The City of Chicago is in the throes of fundamental debate about the future direction of the American economy and its workers, one that touches on our most pressing concerns, from globalization to the role of government. All of this is wrapped up in a seemingly parochial law that would mandate higher wages and benefits for large Chicago retailers.

The ''retail living-wage ordinance'' currently being considered by the City Council would make large retailers (with stores of at least 90,000 square feet) pay a starting wage of $10 an hour, plus $3 of health benefits. Though the proposal would apply to numerous large retailers in the city, including Target and Costco, it quickly got the attention of Wal-Mart. To put it mildly, the world's largest employer, with plans to open numerous stores in the city, wasn't happy and immediately threatened to suspend the store openings.

Cutting through the noise that such debates typically generate, the central question comes down to this: Can Wal-Mart do better by its workers and still profitably offer its trademark ''everyday low prices''? The firm says ''no,'' stating that the ordinance will erase its competitive advantage; a Wal-Mart spokesperson wrote ''If this proposal becomes law . . . retail development will go to the suburbs.''

Our research suggests otherwise: The $13 an hour total compensation cost mandated by the Chicago ordinance is roughly a 20 percent raise over what Wal-Mart claims to pay its employees. A raise of this size could be financed through a combination of Wal-Mart allowing its profit margin (after-tax profits divided by sales) to fall from its current 3.6 percent to 2.9 percent and by raising its prices 0.7 percent -- less than a penny on a $1 pair of socks.

open up the "big box super centers" and really competing with the unionized super markets in those areas. In Alameda County, (Oakland Ca) they passed ordinances that prohibit chains from opening up any store over a certain square footage in space, therefore all but eliminating China Mart from competing with unionized grocery stores. Can't stop 'em, but we can sure try to impede their progress.

http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2749/

Like many people, Pecola Doggett, 56, spent her early working years adjusting to the burgeoning service-sector economy. Whether fielding calls about magazine subscriptions, completing administrative work at local churches or monitoring elections at Chicago City Hall, Doggett earned poverty-level wages and struggled to combat the rising cost of urban living.

That’s why when Costco, the nation’s fifth largest retailer, opened up a store on the city’s North Side, Doggett immediately applied. Unlike most of its competitors, Costco offers its employees a living wage and benefit plan, including full medical coverage. “When Costco came to Chicago, it was a blessing for many, especially those who endure the storm,” says Doggett.

Thousands of Chicago service workers may soon join Doggett in the ranks of the economically secure. As In These Times went to press, the Chicago City Council looked poised to pass an ordinance that would require big box retailers located within city limits to pay their employees a living wage. The legislation requires retail stores larger than 90,000 square feet that are owned by companies who sell $1 billion in merchandise annually to pay their workers a minimum of $9.25 an hour plus $1.50 an hour in benefits beginning July 2007. By 2010, retail giants must offer their employees at least $10 an hour with $3 an hour in benefits, plus annual increases based on adjustments in the cost of living. Thirty-five current stores—including Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Target—would be affected, as well as all future developments.