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Walmart workers demand better wages

The Walmart story dragged on far too long. We had a somewhat similar case here last week. 150 bus drivers from china went on strike to demand better wages. 5 were charged in court, 29 sent back to China and the rest were given stern warning. Swift action and end of story.
 
lpast said:
Im not going to look for it, i posted it here somewhere....but walmart is no longer offering a health plan to new hires...and by attrition they will eliminate the others..and by attrition that means lowering hours below 30 and demotions...you cannot put walmart on a pedestal to me harry...its an american chinese like run company
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Since when did you get the impression that I was putting them on a pedestal?
Being a Walmart associate, is an entry level, low skill job.

If you insist on being that, your whole life, you have to come to expect that, there will be very certain limitations in your total compensation.

Walmart is cutting medical benefits for part time employees, who work on average, less than 24 hours a week.
 
It's quite simple, really. You determine what your labor and skill set is worth. If you don't want to work for minimum wage at Walmart, don't work for Walmart. However, if you don't make yourself some level more indispensable to an employer, you won't hear me break out my violin and play you a sad tale of woe because you think that you're more important than corporate business and the free market.

Everyone thinks that they're worth more than they really are, and apparently it's some sort of massive ego shock when they learn that their ability to ring something up at a register to a customer at a small-box is worth 8 bucks an hour. Get over yourself - seriously. If you don't want to be some minimum wage donkey, gain a more valuable skill that differentiates you from every other Tom Dick and Harry that walks through the HR department to fill out an application.

All men may be created equal, but that doesn't mean that they stay equal. To think otherwise is being absurdly naive.
 
RDS said:
The Walmart story dragged on far too long. We had a somewhat similar case here last week. 150 bus drivers from china went on strike to demand better wages. 5 were charged in court, 29 sent back to China and the rest were given stern warning. Swift action and end of story.
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If only we could send striking workers to prison here in the US.

Well, at least we can send their jobs to China.
 
Gipper said:
It's quite simple, really. You determine what your labor and skill set is worth. If you don't want to work for minimum wage at Walmart, don't work for Walmart. However, if you don't make yourself some level more indispensable to an employer, you won't hear me break out my violin and play you a sad tale of woe because you think that you're more important than corporate business and the free market.

Everyone thinks that they're worth more than they really are, and apparently it's some sort of massive ego shock when they learn that their ability to ring something up at a register to a customer at a small-box is worth 8 bucks an hour. Get over yourself - seriously. If you don't want to be some minimum wage donkey, gain a more valuable skill that differentiates you from every other Tom Dick and Harry that walks through the HR department to fill out an application.

All men may be created equal, but that doesn't mean that they stay equal. To think otherwise is being absurdly naive.
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Besides, most can level up to Tom and Dick, but Harry, that's quite a feat. :cool:
 
johnny_rebson said:
If only we could send striking workers to prison here in the US.

Well, at least we can send their jobs to China.
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The management was far-sighted enough to send their jobs to China. They anticipated this and maintained their profit margins.
 
cpwill said:
They are lowering hours? Goodness - why?!? Has some major new piece of legislation made it prohibitively expensive to employ low-skill labor for more than 35 hours a week, or something?



On the contrary - the amazing efficiency, global operation, and incredible economic benefit that is Wal Mart could only have been American - it is some of the best of America.
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Unionize the pigs and you can watch the needle move for an improved lower middle class and economic recovery take some from the top pigs and spread it around and the country will be all the better...or the top pigs can leave and we will right promptly created a new set of the top rich people...they need us more than we need them...they dont make a dime without us a FACT that always seems to elude you marine...the top cant fight a war without troops and the rich cant get rich without people actually making them their money
 
Mathematician said:
This is exactly why Walmart is for people like college kids. Instead of fussing about the hourly wage, get off your rear end and make yourself worth more. I'll say it again, if you can't walk away and find a better paying job then it's pretty safe to say that you're not worth more.
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yeah yeah more armchair blather
 
lpast said:
Unionize the pigs and you can watch the needle move for an improved lower middle class and economic recovery take some from the top pigs and spread it around and the country will be all the better...or the top pigs can leave and we will right promptly created a new set of the top rich people...they need us more than we need them...they dont make a dime without us a FACT that always seems to elude you marine...the top cant fight a war without troops and the rich cant get rich without people actually making them their money
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So you are for Market socialism?

Market socialism refers to various economic systems where the means of production are either publicly owned or cooperatively owned and operated for a profit in a market economy. The profit generated by the firms would be used to directly remunerate employees or would be the source of public finance or could be distributed amongst the population through a social dividend.[1][2] Theoretically, the fundamental difference between market socialism and a non-market socialism is the existence of a market for the means of production and capital goods. Market socialism is distinguished from models of mixed economies, because unlike the mixed economy, models of market socialism are complete and self-regulating systems.[3] Additionally, market socialism is contrasted with social democratic policies implemented in capitalist market economies. While social democracy aims to achieve greater equality through taxes, subsidies and social welfare projects, market socialism does so through changes in patterns of enterprise ownership and management.[4]

Market socialism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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j-mac said:
So you are for Market socialism?
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Nope I am not a socialist I am a believer in capitolism when it worked for EVERYONE when the rich put limits on their own greed and spread the wealth..and even CARED about thier employees when companies enjoyed sheer loyalty from their employees when employees would argue with other people why you should buy their companies product, when they had retirment parties for employees that had 40-50 yrs working for them and cried because they didnt want to leave..when employees could go to work care about what they were making and EARN A LIVING not get rich EARN A LIVING and when they look ahead if they got sick and be able to afford to go to the doctor and have a retirement that didnt include a can of DOG FOOD for supper everynight...instead today you have zero loyalty going up and down you have people tell you dont that crap its garbage because they hate their employers..and the top just sucked the life out of everything till theres nothing left and the working class cant make a living....
Im going to say this and goddamnit I mean it...I have utterly no respect for you consciously greedy young guys that dont give a **** if people die in the street and harp incessantly on how bad the super rich that get super richer at the expense of every other everyday american has it...screw that its A BULL**** STORY that you just bought and run with
 
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Kal'Stang said:
Sorry but there are plenty of jobs available.
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The best job is where you hire lobbyists to convince Congress you need more taxpayer handouts. The GOP is full of such jobs.
 
lpast said:
Nope I am not a socialist I am a believer in capitolism when it worked for EVERYONE when the rich put limits on their own greed and spread the wealth..
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Well, hold on....I am not trying to call you any names, but it would seem that your stance to this point is in direct agreement with what Market Socialism is.

..and even CARED about thier employees when companies enjoyed sheer loyalty from their employees when employees would argue with other people why you should buy their companies product...instead today you have zero loyalty going up and down you have people tell you dont that crap its garbage because they hate their employers..
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Well, think about it...I grew up as I have pointed out in the past, with a father that was a small businessman. He had about 10 employees, and much like you describe took care of them pretty well. I remember when one guy that was with my dad, seems like forever, was injured while cleaning the gutters at his house. Since my dad was a single Pharmacy/store he didn't offer much in the way of health insurance, but he picked up the hospital tab, and for six weeks took his paycheck, and groceries to the mans home and presented it to his family. I know because I was with him. And it made a difference to the man and his family. Things like this still happen in an anecdotal basis. But the moment you start demanding this be the case, people back away from it. It's human nature. Also, as far as loyality goes, that goes for both sides. Since pensions are not a part of the employment landscape anymore, the employee feels less tied to a job for the long run, however, the costs of training and investing in that employee haven't changed....You get the respect you give. If your an employer that treats his employees like ****, and turns over a lot of people, your likely pay a higher cost in training off setting any potential raise structure, and will fail in the long run. Likewise if youallow yourself to be a development ground so that employees can gain the experience and leave then you are a fool as well, and will fail. The risk is much higher for employers than for employees.

and the top just sucked the life out of everything till theres nothing left and the working class cant make a living....
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Greed goes to the end of employee greed as well....Ask Hostess.
 
solletica said:
The best job is where you hire lobbyists to convince Congress you need more taxpayer handouts. The GOP is full of such jobs.
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Oh, and the demo side of the isle is pure? Yeah, ok.
 
Boo Radley said:
That's another over simplification. Especially when jobs are scarce. It is fundamental that when employees are able to bargin together, they have more leverage. And when had more unions, people made a better living.
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Yes, but it was a false economy. That was after WW II, basically, the US, Canada and Australia were the only countries left with their full capacity intact. Canada and Australia have very low populations and do not have the resources available in the US, so while they did ok, even well, they could not match the US.

Once other Nations like Britain, Germany, Japan and others finished their rebuilding and were able to enter the market, the US share of the market began declining and US companies that previously dominated and had little competition worldwide now found themselves having to compete. Couple this with the decline of the US Education system, social upheavals, Government dept and regulation, reduced quality received from labor increased costs of labor and probably some more factors that are not coming to mind at the moment, it is not surprising that America has been declining, it is surprising that it has not outright failed yet. Unions transition from making needed changes in the system to just plain greed is one of the major factors in the decline. Unions today serve only two real purposes, express the greedy demands of it's members and garner as much as they can to assuage the greed of their members.
 
lpast said:
Unionize the pigs and you can watch the needle move for an improved lower middle class and economic recovery take some from the top pigs and spread it around and the country will be all the better...or the top pigs can leave and we will right promptly created a new set of the top rich people...they need us more than we need them...they dont make a dime without us a FACT that always seems to elude you marine...the top cant fight a war without troops and the rich cant get rich without people actually making them their money
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Yeah the unions have been so successful these last few decades at losing membership, they really know how to gain the hearts and minds of even the Wallmart employees. Why would anyone want to join a union when the union is going to take money from you? The unions only hope is to keep on the government payroll, and even there they are being busted, because of their greed. Scott Walker come to mind. The only reason the government unions have done so well is they sold their vote to the highest bidder, and they were all liberals.
 
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j-mac said:
Do you write anything off? Why should the tax payer subsidize you?
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They're not. Taxpayers only subsidize the ones who get special write-offs.
 
Harry Guerrilla said:
$464 billion in revenue is not $464 billion in profit.
Revenue is the money they collect, before taxes and their bills are paid.

Their profit is $16.5 billion.
Their margin of profit is 3.57%
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Ok, now lets look at what those "greedy" shareholders made. So far this year, Walmart stock bottomed out at $57.36 (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.: NYSE:WMT quotes & news - Google Finance) and annualized dividends for 2012 are $1.46 (Walmart Corporate - Dividends & Stock Splits), so at it's lowest stock price, it would take the average investor 39.3 years to make back, from dividends, the dollar amount they paid. (Current rates, $72.10 and $1.59, it would take 45.3 years). So it would take over $40 years for an investor to make back their investment if the relied upon dividends being paid.

I don't know about others, but waiting 40+ years to get back what I put in and actually start making money off of an investment is not being greedy. I would make more money off of selling that stock that I purchased at $57.36 for $72.10 than I would ever make off of dividends. Dividends are the distribution of profits, those not used for other things, to share holders. Walmart hardly appears "greedy" when you consider return upon the investment in the company.

How many walmart employee's want to wait 40+ years to get the pay they earned on their investment of labor? Looked at this way, who is being "greedy"?
 
OpportunityCost said:
I dont need any credentials to understand that comparing a job to a root canal is a stupid argument. Look, I complained about your plainly over the top comment. Dont want that to happen? Stop saying stupid stuff.

Stop accusing everyone attacking you. I attacked your argument. Quit whining.
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The WHINING is coming exclusively from you posts just like this one. I really do not care about your opinion nor about your obsessive need to follow me around and nitpick about my posts.

Perhaps this will help in your understanding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAp-T8Gklw0
 
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buck said:
In that case, you should start that business and see if you can compete with Walmart and Target. Good luck attracting customers with higher prices then your competition.
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If all people cared about was purchasing the cheapest product, the only two cheeses found in stores would be Velveeta and American. And at Thanksgiving, you'd ask your guests what kind of turkey they wanted, "neck or spleen?" Campbell's advertising slogan would be "it's mm mm cheap!" Pork would be hailed as "the cheaper white meat."

Gipper said:
Not as crazy as some hyper-liberal socialist thinking that he can run a multi-billion dollar corporation better than that multi-billion dollar corporation.
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I'm a socialist because I think Wal-Mart is screwing their employees? That a very sensible sentiment you've got there. $8 an hour is capitalism and $10.65 is socialism.

I never said I could run a multi-billion dollar corporation better than anybody, I said that I don't think they give their employees a fair deal and then I said what I thought constituted fairness. Whole Foods does it and they are thriving because they are known for the quality of their products, the treatment of their employees, and the responsibility of their business practices. Wal-Mart doesn't have to do anything other than adhere to existing laws. But the ultimate measure of right and wrong transcends the laws we have on paper and the price of shares come 4 PM EST.

It's just a question of what you believe in. Some people believe in social darwinism and Laissez-fair leadership. I believe in fighting for those who are born on the wrong side of the tracks or get the raw end of the deal. I support local businesses, first and foremost, with my wallet. I urge everybody else to do the same.
 
Mustachio said:
If all people cared about was purchasing the cheapest product, the only two cheeses found in stores would be Velveeta and American. And at Thanksgiving, you'd ask your guests what kind of turkey they wanted, "neck or spleen?" Campbell's advertising slogan would be "it's mm mm cheap!" Pork would be hailed as "the cheaper white meat."
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Or Walmart would be the biggest retailer in the world. Oh.. Wait.

That's right. You can buy all those products you mentioned at Walmart for cheaper then you can pretty much any where else. Customers obviously care about that.

My wife works for a union shop. They can not get their prices even close to Walmarts.. It's difficult when you have to pay your unskilled cashiers $30/hour ($45.00 on sunday) with 401k and full benefits. So, they are cutting way back on hours at her store (the entire chain actually) and they are in danger of going under. Primarily because customers can get the same products cheaper at Target, Walmart or any of the other non-union grocery stores that have recently opened.

So, your claim that customers don't care, is nonsense.
 
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buck said:
Or Walmart would be the biggest retailer in the world. Oh.. Wait.

That's right. You can buy all those products you mentioned at Walmart for cheaper then you can pretty much any where else. Customers obviously care about that.

My wife works for a union shop. They can not get their prices even close to Walmarts.. It's difficult when you have to pay your unskilled cashiers $30/hour ($45.00 on sunday) with 401k and full benefits. So, they are cutting way back on hours at her store (the entire chain actually) and they are in danger of going under. Primarily because customers can get the same products cheaper at Target, Walmart or any of the other non-union grocery stores that have recently opened.

So, your claim that customers don't care, is nonsense.
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Works for Sears-Kmart does she?
 
haymarket said:
The WHINING is coming exclusively from you posts just like this one. I really do not care about your opinion nor about your obsessive need to follow me around and nitpick about my posts.

Perhaps this will help in your understanding

I Don't Care - YouTube
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Haymarket, you need to understand the difference between going after a bad post and going after you. I went after what you said. I made no comment about you. I will not be baited by you. I will call you out for remarks that are bad arguments. Want that to stop? Stop making bad arguments.
 
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