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Wal-Mart workers allege layoffs, store closings were retaliatory

Lutherf said:
I don't know how the permit process works in Oklahoma but out here they generally want to see plans before issuing the permit. If the plans aren't ready yet and the contractor hasn't been selected then I figure it's reasonable to assume that no permit has been requested yet. Furthermore, if the plumbing problems were deemed to be critical (ie. fire suppression system) then it would make sense to close the store even before the plans were submitted for permitting.
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I seriously doubt the decision to close the stores was spur of the moment. If plumbing was an issue they would have had inspectors look at the problems to see what needed to be fixed and decisions would have to have been made to either just close the for awhile or just work around the problem. A closed store is a loss of revenue, so they would want to expedite the process of getting things fixed in order to reopen the stores quickly. So they would have had plenty of time to draw up plans and get the permits.
 
Blemonds said:
I've never heard of a permit being required to conduct plumbing repairs
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Walmart claims this isn't a simple plumbing repair.
 
Blemonds said:
I've never heard of a permit being required to conduct plumbing repairs
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Permits and inspections for major and even some minor repairs are the norm. A plumbing repair requiring 6 months down time in a large building would almost certainly require a permit and inspections.
 
Blemonds said:
How can anyone complain about a paid two month vacation?
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Let me get this straight...

Store closes for "up to six months". Employees get two months of paid time off and twiddle their thumbs for the other four months. And you call this a vacation? Are you a graduate of the Karl Rove School Of Mathematics To Make Yourself Feel Better?
 
Blemonds said:
Walmart is beng more than fair to these employees, 2 months paid vacation and opportunities to transfer to other stores. The smart move would be to get in line for one of those transfers as soon as possible
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Employees could try to transfer to a different Walmart location during that time.
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You're easily fooled aren't you?
 
jamesrage said:
I seriously doubt the decision to close the stores was spur of the moment. If plumbing was an issue they would have had inspectors look at the problems to see what needed to be fixed and decisions would have to have been made to either just close the for awhile or just work around the problem. A closed store is a loss of revenue, so they would want to expedite the process of getting things fixed in order to reopen the stores quickly. So they would have had plenty of time to draw up plans and get the permits.
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What are the odds of 5 stores where this issue is happening all needed the same type of repairs at the same time for the same duration and with hours of notice given? I'd say pretty close to 0. It's union busting at its finest.
 
TheDemSocialist said:
Ahhh yes. So "fair". "Oops bad plumbing in 5 stores randomly. Looks like we need to close them all, give em 2 months of paid vacation, maybe rehire a couple, or transfer some to another store, here is 2 months paid leave..". Oh yea also dont mind that they only gave the employees a few hour notice, and I guess it just so happens that these workers were the ones involved in pro-union organizing, and its also not like Walmart has a history of doing this.. Real "fair".
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Had you read up on the issue you would know that the stores had ongoing plumbing problems. Nothing random about that. Walmart also plans other renovations to to be made while the stores are closed. So a two month paid vacation is more than fair.
 
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jimbo said:
Permits and inspections for major and even some minor repairs are the norm. A plumbing repair requiring 6 months down time in a large building would almost certainly require a permit and inspections.
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Provide an example
 
reinoe said:
Let me get this straight...

Store closes for "up to six months". Employees get two months of paid time off and twiddle their thumbs for the other four months. And you call this a vacation? Are you a graduate of the Karl Rove School Of Mathematics To Make Yourself Feel Better?
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Walmart is offering opportunities at other stores, so the ones who sit and twiddle their thumbs will have no excuse. The ones who are diligent will be first in line to apply for one of those transfers
 
Hatuey said:
What are the odds of 5 stores where this issue is happening all needed the same type of repairs at the same time for the same duration and with hours of notice given? I'd say pretty close to 0. It's union busting at its finest.
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What's the chance that the additional renovations would make that a possibility
 
Blemonds said:
What's the chance that the additional renovations would make that a possibility
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When were they first planned? Why were workers only notified HOURS before they were to occur? What are the extent of the repairs? These are all questions which have yet to be answered. However, the truth is that they won't be answered because this is union busting at its finest.
 
Hatuey said:
When were they first planned? Why were workers only notified HOURS before they were to occur? What are the extent of the repairs? These are all questions which have yet to be answered. However, the truth is that they won't be answered because this is union busting at its finest.
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With the employees getting two months paid vacation, the short notice is not an issue.
 
Blemonds said:
Had you read the link you would know that the stores had ongoing plumbing problems. Nothing random about that. Walmart also plans other renovations to to be made while the stores are closed. So a two month paid vacation is more than fair.
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You betcha I did. Also read "City officials in Pico Rivera say that nothing has been brought to their attention and no permits at all have been sought for any work,". Also read that he isnt elaborating on this plumbing leak that takes 6 months to take care of, what is this the BP oil spill?
 
Hatuey said:
What are the odds of 5 stores where this issue is happening all needed the same type of repairs at the same time for the same duration and with hours of notice given? I'd say pretty close to 0. It's union busting at its finest.
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Actually it is quite likely. Walmart stores are cookie cutters and in many cases are built with the same blueprints using the same materials. I don't know the specifics of what exactly they are claiming needs to be done but there being a common problem in several different stores doesn't seem that unlikely.

The proof will be in the pudding here. You can bet that these stores will be being watched and if there aren't some massive repairs being done at them, people will find out about it.
 
Blemonds said:
Provide an example
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No permit is required to change fixtures however if they relocate fixtures, plans and permits are generally required. In addition, in many municipalities electrical work over a certain value requires permitting and inspections. Any signage renovation requires permitting.
 
TheDemSocialist said:
You betcha I did. Also read "City officials in Pico Rivera say that nothing has been brought to their attention and no permits at all have been sought for any work,". Also read that he isnt elaborating on this plumbing leak that takes 6 months to take care of, what is this the BP oil spill?
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Again, what will they be doing that requires a permit?
 
Blemonds said:
Provide an example
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Difficult to do without knowing the exact location of the building and the nature of the repair and the total cost of the project.

In my county, any repair involving gas requires a permit and inspections, regardless of the cost. That includes repair or replacement of a domestic hw heater. Any project involving a cost of over $40,000, renovation or new construction requires a permit. Moving a gas or water meter, installation of a new septic system or repair of an older one same thing.

In a 6 month repair in a typical box store would meet many or all these items would trigger.
 
Blemonds said:
With the employees getting two months paid vacation, the short notice is not an issue.
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What are the job markets in those areas? :) Paid vacation? Lol. I'm sure they're rolling in the deep with that money.
 
Blemonds said:
Doesn't seem to be anything specific that applies to Walmart
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What kind of plumbing jobs would take six months,require that the store be closed and require no permits?
 
Blemonds said:
Again, what will they be doing that requires a permit?
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You usually have to get one when commercial property is doing construction and or renovations...
 
jimbo said:
Difficult to do without knowing the exact location of the building and the nature of the repair and the total cost of the project.

In my county, any repair involving gas requires a permit and inspections, regardless of the cost. That includes repair or replacement of a domestic hw heater. Any project involving a cost of over $40,000, renovation or new construction requires a permit. Moving a gas or water meter, installation of a new septic system or repair of an older one same thing.

In a 6 month repair in a typical box store would meet many or all these items would trigger.
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Here's what Walmart has said:

"Walmart hasn't applied for any permits there yet because they first need to determine what repairs are needed, Sutton said. "
 
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