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Walmart workers demand better wages

j-mac said:
Stand the sight of them? Hell, I like WalMart. Because of them, I am able to have things I couldn't afford otherwise. My standard of living is better with them than without. They employ my son as he works his way through collage, and likes his job. Because of that he can afford to have a pretty nice car, and spending money to take his girlfriend out, plus contribute through his purchases to the economy.

They are building a more local store closer to my home here, and I can't wait until they complete it because you know why? Along with that there is a strip mall going in with it to provide space to localized businesses that can benefit off of Wal Marts traffic. Mom and Pop's aren't failing solely because the big bad Wal Mart came to town, no, they are failing because they refuse to update their business models and go to where the shoppers are.
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I'm glad your son likes his job, and I wouldn't say that every employee there probably hates his job. However, when I go into Walmart (yes I do shop there, pretty much by force), I don't see people making eye contact with you, being cheerful and friendly, and promoting great service. They drone on like zombies. They're there to do a job you could train a monkey to do, for a pretty low wage. I for one don't blame them for being less than exuberant when I go in there. I expect them to help me, to provide services needed for my shopping experience, and for them to make inane well-wishes. However, I don't go in there with the expectation of smiling faces and people bending over backwards for me.

Those supercenters with stores in it are not impressive. Woodforest Bank is essentially the subprime version of today's banking, catered to today's fast-food mentality. I imagine that many of the "independent" stores who operate on Walmart soil are essentially dancing with the devil.

Here in the semi-rural south, Walmart has monopsony power anywhere it's put down. If you were to take away Walmart from the local city around where I live, it would devastate the community. I'm not a big fan of that.
 
Utility Man said:
Seems strange that $53(80% tax free?)a day lessens your taxable income by 13k a year.

But I am not a tax guru either.
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I am driving around 250 days a year....What is so strange about that?
 
Gipper said:
Not to the level that Walmart is. Now, I'm aware that the SBA and other government organizations exist to help businesses get off the ground, but once you get to a certain point, you're cut off. Walmart is far beyond that point.

They're also a big union target because they essentially ask for it. I've seen Walmart recruitment and employee training videos, and I've met many employees. I've never seen a company work so hard to prevent unions. Hell, I...well, we'll say "dated" for politically correct purposes...a girl who said that she was hanging out in the parking lot after hours with a couple other employees. They were smoking, chit-chatting, just carrying on like normal people do. Apparently a manager saw this on tape and called Bentonville to the HQ (as required by company policy) and reported it as "union creation activity". Apparently a few weeks later, some stuffed shirt flew in from Arkansas and droned on some anti-union rant. Seems like slight overkill for such a situation, but the vitriol Walmart has against unions is bordering paranoia. It makes me wonder why they're against it so much.
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Ask Hostess and you will have your answer.
 
Utility Man said:
Seems like it might be more efficient to just pay workers higher wages in the first place, rather than have the rest of us pay higher taxes to make up or it.
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You're not going to pay lower taxes, even if these people didn't qualify for social aid.
Besides the idiotic belief that Walmart causes people to go on social aid.
 
Gipper said:
I'm glad your son likes his job, and I wouldn't say that every employee there probably hates his job. However, when I go into Walmart (yes I do shop there, pretty much by force), I don't see people making eye contact with you, being cheerful and friendly, and promoting great service. They drone on like zombies. They're there to do a job you could train a monkey to do, for a pretty low wage. I for one don't blame them for being less than exuberant when I go in there. I expect them to help me, to provide services needed for my shopping experience, and for them to make inane well-wishes. However, I don't go in there with the expectation of smiling faces and people bending over backwards for me.

Those supercenters with stores in it are not impressive. Woodforest Bank is essentially the subprime version of today's banking, catered to today's fast-food mentality. I imagine that many of the "independent" stores who operate on Walmart soil are essentially dancing with the devil.

Here in the semi-rural south, Walmart has monopsony power anywhere it's put down. If you were to take away Walmart from the local city around where I live, it would devastate the community. I'm not a big fan of that.
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Perhaps the things you see and perceive at your local Walmart are limited to your area of Ala-f'n-bama.

I don't see the kinds of attitudes you describe at my local Walmart and the bank in mine is a branch of a well-established Credit Union that is based at the local Army fort...which stands to reason since a lot of the customers at my Walmart are military.

At my store, I'm always asked by the staff if I need any help with anything. It actually kind of bugs me sometimes, so I asked one guy about it. He told me they have a company policy they call the "eight foot rule", I think. Anyway, it means that if a customer comes that close to them they are to smile and ask if any help is needed. Could be your local store doesn't follow that rule.
 
MaggieD said:
Their quarterly margin (current) is 3.19%. Target is 3.76%. Wal-Mart Stores Profit Margin Quarterly (WMT)
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Ahhh...yeah, that seems a little more like I expected, unless I read the original post wrong. Retail stores won't operate on high profit margins because their products are not differentiated. For the most part, generic labels are just as good as the commercial brands.

I think that Target also gets a little screwed because Minnesota is a really bad state to incorporate, whereas Arkansas is one of the better states. I doubt that was a driving force behind either establishment, but just saying. There are other factors that could easily contribute to the difference in profit margins. The obvious one is "it's not like Target isn't getting federal cash either", as well as the percentage of Targets that are stocked as full grocery stores as compared to Walmart, and plenty of others too numerous to list.
 
Mycroft said:
Perhaps the things you see and perceive at your local Walmart are limited to your area of Ala-f'n-bama.

I don't see the kinds of attitudes you describe at my local Walmart and the bank in mine is a branch of a well-established Credit Union that is based at the local Army fort...which stands to reason since a lot of the customers at my Walmart are military.

At my store, I'm always asked by the staff if I need any help with anything. It actually kind of bugs me sometimes, so I asked one guy about it. He told me they have a company policy they call the "eight foot rule", I think. Anyway, it means that if a customer comes that close to them they are to smile and ask if any help is needed. Could be your local store doesn't follow that rule.
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Lol, i'd forgotten that rule. Course I worked graveyard and most of the time I was in the freezer so didn't really deal with customers all that much. Except on Black Friday...god what a nightmare!
 
Thos at the top in corporations forget the people that make business work. When unemployment is high, we see which companies care about their workers and which do not. I have stopped shopping at Wal Mart and i hope these strikes begin to hurt the Wal Mart brand. That's the only way the executives at the top will get the message.
 
Kal'stang said:
From what I understand there are companies out there with 42% profit margin. (one of them being an aussie bank iirc)
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Two things caught my eye about that - it's not American, and it's a financial services industry. In that case, 42% isn't remotely unheard of. For retail, it would be.

Mycroft said:
Perhaps the things you see and perceive at your local Walmart are limited to your area of Ala-f'n-bama.

I don't see the kinds of attitudes you describe at my local Walmart and the bank in mine is a branch of a well-established Credit Union that is based at the local Army fort...which stands to reason since a lot of the customers at my Walmart are military.

At my store, I'm always asked by the staff if I need any help with anything. It actually kind of bugs me sometimes, so I asked one guy about it. He told me they have a company policy they call the "eight foot rule", I think. Anyway, it means that if a customer comes that close to them they are to smile and ask if any help is needed. Could be your local store doesn't follow that rule.
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Oh I'm sure it's not uniform. People are all different, so stores will be different, as will people's expectations and experiences within those stores. I've seen a number of employees who are cheerful to the point of obnoxious at that job. However, I've seen more that are on the opposite end of the spectrum. It depends on where you go, when you go, who you meet, etc.

If someone loves to work at Walmart and shows it, more power to 'em. I just generally have lower expectations of people who work at unskilled, minimum wage jobs. I don't expect smiling faces because I wouldn't smile if I was in their shoes either.
 
Kal'Stang said:
Lol, i'd forgotten that rule. Course I worked graveyard and most of the time I was in the freezer so didn't really deal with customers all that much. Except on Black Friday...god what a nightmare!
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Did you have that creepy chant thing?

That eight foot rule was really more of a "fire anyone we don't like" rule.
 
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j-mac said:
Bull Hockey! Show me where Romney hid money from reporting to the government, and you would have a case, but just because you claim it doesn't mean it is true. The government not only knows about it, but encourages it.



Oh you want to get into the macro picture? I am sure that the poor, and middle class pay the lion share of taxes overall, when you include everything. However, most of this is caused by misguided regulation, and taxation spurred by liberal policies....Yet, the masses that are being fleeced continue to vote in these vampires time and time again....How foolish is that?
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What liberal policies are you talking about here? I am curious to know what liberal policies and or regulations cause higher taxes on the middle class and poor. Please be specific.
 
Mycroft said:
As I have with other posters, I reject your contention that Walmart has any responsibility or mandate to improve the general state of our economy or to reduce the number of people who take government benefits. Their only responsibility it toward maximizing the profits of their stockholders.
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What is their responsibility as a group of human beings? I suppose that won't sway a person of your mindset. I'll go another direction for your benefit.

The employees of Walmart have the right to lobby for better wages, better benefits, and better opportunities. If Walmart's board of directors have no interest in improving the current well being of their own staff, then it is reasonable for the staff to be proactive about fighting for what they deserve. And if Walmart was sooo concerned about maximizing profits, why does their CEO make more money in one hour than most of their employees make in one year?

Why are companies like Whole Foods rapidly expanding while they give their employees tremendous benefits and strive to utilize local resources? Ben and Jerry's founders make something like 12 dollars an hour and find a significant amount of time to help their fellow citizens. The enthusiastic defenders of every aspect of capitalism and it's effects will always say "then why don't Walmart's employees quit and work at Whole Foods?" Most Walmart employees probably hate Whole Foods (viewing as white collar pompous free range crap capped with caviar) and most Whole Foods employees probably view Walmart as the place where GMOs are growing in every aisle and a trailer park resident is at every cash register.

Walmart employees are born in a Walmart world. They stay where they're comfortable and work there with their family and friends. They weren't born in a free range, organic world, and that's no reason to deny them of health care and opportunities.
 
Mustachio said:
What is their responsibility as a group of human beings? I suppose that won't sway a person of your mindset. I'll go another direction for your benefit.

The employees of Walmart have the right to lobby for better wages, better benefits, and better opportunities. If Walmart's board of directors have no interest in improving the current well being of their own staff, then it is reasonable for the staff to be proactive about fighting for what they deserve. And if Walmart was sooo concerned about maximizing profits, why does their CEO make more money in one hour than most of their employees make in one year?

Why are companies like Whole Foods rapidly expanding while they give their employees tremendous benefits and strive to utilize local resources? Ben and Jerry's founders make something like 12 dollars an hour and find a significant amount of time to help their fellow citizens. The enthusiastic defenders of every aspect of capitalism and it's effects will always say "then why don't Walmart's employees quit and work at Whole Foods?" Most Walmart employees probably hate Whole Foods (viewing as white collar pompous free range crap capped with caviar) and most Whole Foods employees probably view Walmart as the place where GMOs are growing in every aisle and a trailer park resident is at every cash register.

Walmart employees are born in a Walmart world. They stay where they're comfortable and work there with their family and friends. They weren't born in a free range, organic world, and that's no reason to deny them of health care and opportunities.
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If you can't grow out of your comfort zone, don't cry about it.
You're limiting yourself.

If that's what is keeping them from earning more, I have little regard for them.
 
Mustachio said:
What is their responsibility as a group of human beings? I suppose that won't sway a person of your mindset. I'll go another direction for your benefit.

The employees of Walmart have the right to lobby for better wages, better benefits, and better opportunities. If Walmart's board of directors have no interest in improving the current well being of their own staff, then it is reasonable for the staff to be proactive about fighting for what they deserve. And if Walmart was sooo concerned about maximizing profits, why does their CEO make more money in one hour than most of their employees make in one year?

You are correct that the employees of Walmart have the right to lobby for better everything. But Walmart also has the right to reject their demands.

Why are companies like Whole Foods rapidly expanding while they give their employees tremendous benefits and strive to utilize local resources? Ben and Jerry's founders make something like 12 dollars an hour and find a significant amount of time to help their fellow citizens. The enthusiastic defenders of every aspect of capitalism and it's effects will always say "then why don't Walmart's employees quit and work at Whole Foods?" Most Walmart employees probably hate Whole Foods (viewing as white collar pompous free range crap capped with caviar) and most Whole Foods employees probably view Walmart as the place where GMOs are growing in every aisle and a trailer park resident is at every cash register.

Walmart employees are born in a Walmart world. They stay where they're comfortable and work there with their family and friends. They weren't born in a free range, organic world, and that's no reason to deny them of health care and opportunities.
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I'm not sure what you are getting at here. Are you saying that Walmart employees are a lower class of people? Anyway, I think your speculation of how Walmart employees feel about Whole Foods is just that...speculation - and a bit hyperbolic at that.

In any event, what makes you think Walmart has any "responsibility as a group of human beings"? (whatever that is)
 
j-mac said:
Bull Hockey! Show me where Romney hid money from reporting to the government, and you would have a case, but just because you claim it doesn't mean it is true. The government not only knows about it, but encourages it.
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I can't show that to you since the gentleman refuses to do what every other person has done while running for president, including George W Romney, Mitt's dad--show seven years of tax records, something of which I believe brings the tradition to a halt with Mitt Romney.

And encourage it? That's what Obama is trying to bring to a halt--if he gets cooperation from a GOP House of Representatives.



j-mac said:
Oh you want to get into the macro picture? I am sure that the poor, and middle class pay the lion share of taxes overall, when you include everything. However, most of this is caused by misguided regulation, and taxation spurred by liberal policies....Yet, the masses that are being fleeced continue to vote in these vampires time and time again....How foolish is that?
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For the rich? How much money goes in to the pot is nothing compared with how much those folks get to keep.
 
Mycroft said:
I'm not sure what you are getting at here. Are you saying that Walmart employees are a lower class of people? Anyway, I think your speculation of how Walmart employees feel about Whole Foods is just that...speculation - and a bit hyperbolic at that.
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I, for one, am not sure what you are getting at here. Walmart employees do, in fact, have a right to attempt to unionize and try for better treatment and pay...and Walmart does, in fact, have a right to fire them. Well, in many states they do.

I'm not sure what part of the emboldened statement you took as "Walmart employees are POS's".
 
Hairytic said:
What liberal policies are you talking about here? I am curious to know what liberal policies and or regulations cause higher taxes on the middle class and poor. Please be specific.
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You're kidding right? On a Federal level everything from environmental radicalism, to Obamacare. On a local level, this has already been pointed out by a liberal...Remember, while the GOP took, and now run some 30 states, this is a recent trend, and it is my opinion that because on a local scale the people are recognizing that liberal governance is screwing them.
 
Hairytic said:
Thos at the top in corporations forget the people that make business work. When unemployment is high, we see which companies care about their workers and which do not. I have stopped shopping at Wal Mart and i hope these strikes begin to hurt the Wal Mart brand. That's the only way the executives at the top will get the message.
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Those strikes didn't do anything.
Mainly because it wasn't initiated by the Walmart employees.
It was started by the UCFW.

It was astroturf.
 
RLN said:
I can't show that to you since the gentleman refuses to do what every other person has done while running for president, including George W Romney, Mitt's dad--show seven years of tax records, something of which I believe brings the tradition to a halt with Mitt Romney.
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So you have nothing, no fact to go on, so you'll like Obama during the campaign, just make it up. Got it.


And encourage it? That's what Obama is trying to bring to a halt--if he gets cooperation from a GOP House of Representatives.
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Oh, glaring bit of candor here I think....So it isn't just the 'evil rich' that Obama is going after, it is everyone....I always thought as much.

For the rich? How much money goes in to the pot is nothing compared with how much those folks get to keep.
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Sorry, I don't base my self worth on someone elses success....I find that to be just a little sad....
 
j-mac said:
You're kidding right? On a Federal level everything from environmental radicalism, to Obamacare. On a local level, this has already been pointed out by a liberal...Remember, while the GOP took, and now run some 30 states, this is a recent trend, and it is my opinion that because on a local scale the people are recognizing that liberal governance is screwing them.
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I really need you to be more specific. Everything from environmental radicalism to Obamacare is very vague. Can you name just a few specific policies or regulations and explain how they raise our taxes or harm this country in some way?
 
Gipper said:
I, for one, am not sure what you are getting at here. Walmart employees do, in fact, have a right to attempt to unionize and try for better treatment and pay...and Walmart does, in fact, have a right to fire them. Well, in many states they do.

I'm not sure what part of the emboldened statement you took as "Walmart employees are POS's".
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Well, I didn't use the term "POS", but I DID ask you to clarify what you were saying. Will you do that? And, more importantly, will you expand on your "responsibility as a group of human beings" question?
 
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