Bloggers On Working Families For Wal-Mart

“Now we learn from Wal-Mart Watch that the site and its blogs are fake. Working Families for Wal-Mart is totally the creation of Wal-Mart’s public relations firm”

How is this any different from Wal-Mart Watch, which claims to be the creation of “Five Stones and The Center for Community and Corporate Ethics.”, which are fake blogs funded by the union that would like to get their hands on Wal-Mart’s ‘associates’ union dues money?  How come they don’t list the union’s name in their site name?

Reading the ‘About Us’ page for this website reveals that it is run by a 501c3 group - not SEIU. It seems to me that the ‘About Us’ page makes it very clear who supports Wal-Mart Watch and who Wal-Mart Watch supports in turn. It also makes the agenda of Wal-Mart Watch very clear. I don’t see any conflict of interest or deception here.

Isn’t it SO SO obvious that Wal-Mart’s PR people are the biggest idiots on the planet! 

And Edelman and company are runners up!

i’m happy to have 2 walmart stores in my town where i can purchase quality merchendise at a discount price,

But are you happy john to work at one of those 2 Walmart stores for low wages and poor benefits?

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I find it sickening an American corporation such as Wal*Mart, finds it so easy to work with Communists, who not that long ago were killing brave Americans and Canadians in Vietnam.

I find it revolting that friends and relatives of mine lie in graves, proud soldiers fallen, fighting against Communist China in the most horrid of wars, yet we accept today so easily China as provider of all our cheap junk we adore, while China yet remains Communist, with massive human rights violations and exports of ballistic armament and technology to the likes of Iran.

Equally disgusting is the hypocritical stance of Wal*Mart that they should “suck up” to Chinese “Unions“, for the sole purpose of allowing some 28,000 unionized workers to help expand their 40+ Chinese Supercenters. Yet they would close one measly location in Canada because of a union?

Alex, I am not pro-Union, but neither can I stand aside to see such hypocrisy as what some offer you as “free enterprise”.
I don’t know if you had relatives in the RAF, as I, but I am sure as mad as hell about these people who spout all this bullshit in defense of a company that trashes unions in one country whom our relatives died to defend while they make love to unions in a country that killed them. 

Enough is enough.

I’m not pro union either, unless workers work for an unfair company that will not respect the workers like Walmart in my opinion. Toyota does not have a union up here, and it does not need one.

PS. Family was in the RCAF.

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all the people that support wal mart are probably happy customers, which is all good,but until they have worked there they dont know what kind of company it really is, I do,those people who say theu pay fair wages and have excellent benefits, do not work there, when sam was alive,it WAS a great place and DID have great benefits,now it is a very greedy company,and it got its 11% profit increase by taking from its employees and cutting back.

Alex - I couldn’t agree more! If a large corporation “trickles down” their profits to their workers, (like the trickle down effect is suppost to work), then there is no need for a union! My hat goes off to Toyota for doing so! It’s a little strange, that Wal-Mart being a superior corporation over Toyota, via their $11.2 billion dollar profits, can’t seem to grasp the whole “trickle down” terminology like other much smaller corporations do! Their only line of defense in this matter, “We’re just a little retail store,” doesn’t take away from the fact, that $11.2 billion dollars each year, does “NOT” trickle down!!!

I asked if they realized that I had resigned this morning. They said no. I explained to them that their bullying meant nothing.. they can call it insubordination, or dereliction of duty or anything they wanted but I was only working the two week period to help the manager, and if this behavior continued I may as well leave right then and there. But I would not allow them to make me stand in freezing weather with only a short sleeve shirt on and quite truthfully the lacking staff is NOT my responsibility.
I walked away.

Another manager tried to stop me as I was walking out of the employee locker area and asked if I would come back to Wal-Mart and explain to the store manager what had happened. I agreed to.. but I was so angry I added, “You know, I can put up with lot of harassment and hardship in a job but when I have already handed in my two weeks notice and these chumps want to continue bullying I just may return with a lawyer.”

Then I shook my head and said, “You need to keep out of this.. Wal-Mart is your career, it was just a temporary job for me.. you don’t need involving in this mess.”

I’m unsure if I have a case. I don’t know Wal-Mart regulations enough to know what to do.. I just need advice.. as quickly as possible..


I am getting nowhere this morning.. having been up ill all night I’ve lost my voice and am having difficulties speaking with department managers and gain any iota of common sense..

Is political doublespeak part of the Wal-Mart CBL’s that I have missed? 

One of my department managers and I just had a phone conversation that sent me straight to the NOW web site frantically seeking a source of help in formulating an action plan.

The department manager: “Denise, I see nothing wrong with you becoming a door greeter SINCE YOU HAVE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS.”

Er’, excuse me Sir… I just unloaded a very large truck 30 minutes prior.. where did that weigh limitation go to THEN.

Convenient weight limitation I see. 

The department manager: “But Denise why didn’t you CLOSE the bay doors so that you would be warm.”

Er’ excuse me Sir, but I was told 15 minutes and seeing as I have never been NEAR the front of the store before how on earth am I supposed to know what I am allowed to do and what I am not allowed to do. If the doors are wide open I assume there is a reason.
I mean, with THREE CSM’s coming to view the mountain view from the bay wouldn’t you think one of the silly buggers would say, “Gee, I need to close the bay doors.”

Fact is.. I am being harassed and I know it. But what to do about it I’m unsure.
The hardest part about all of this is that I’m being harassed for being gracious enough to give the store manager two weeks notice before I left.. I could have just walked out like all the rest of them.

Am I going to abide by that 2 weeks notice now? Nope.. let them fire me.

I am calling around trying to locate all the employee’s who have left (walked out) in the past month.. there are at LEAST 20, perhaps a whole lot more.

Seems to me that in this case there is strength in numbers but if anyone has an action plan I sure would appreciate help.

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I am/was an employee at the Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico super Wal-Mart. This particular store is in serious trouble.
This is like watching the Titanic go down.

It is 100 employee’s under staffed. We have ONE receiving employee left (after the entire day and evening crews walked off the job.)

Yesterday we had ONE cashier with 15 closed cash registers.

Department managers are having to take on two or three departments because we are so managerial understaffed.

The store manager is pushing carts because we have NO cart pushers in the evening and only 1 or 2 at peak periods.

No-one will work for Wal-Mart.. so the company is transporting employee’s from a town 60 miles away to help unload trucks but the pressure on each and every employee to do double and triple duty is insane.

When I was hired, 4 months ago, I was a part time closer in the grocery department. Then meat, dairy and produce were added to the duties.. then receiving/unloading trucks.

As an employee earning $6+ an hour I started to become vocal about the sad state of affairs, and I concluded that Wal-Mart needed unionized workers.

My undoing!

Over and over again I heard the term, “stealing from Wal-Mart” by management when it came to talking to co-workers on the store floor, discussing Wal-Mart policy.. but I never heard the term “stealing from employee’s” when it came to making hourly employee’s leave their department to push carts, unload trucks etc.

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In break room conversations with management I kept trying to explain that when you take an hourly employee who earns $6.75 an hour and demand that he work as a reciever, who earns $7.95 an hour - you are stealing from the employee.
When you demand that an employee take 3 or 4 departments because 3 departments have NO employee’s after 6pm - and you only give that employee ONE pay-check, you are stealing from that employee.

If it goes one way it must go BOTH ways.

If the term “stealing” applies to what employee’s do to Wal-Mart if they chat with co-workers or take more than their fair share of breaks, it likewise applies to what Wal-Mart does to employee’s if they underpay, over extend or demand work duties of a higher pay range.
If it doesn’t apply to employee’s it certainly does not apply to the company.. take it or leave it.

The situation I witnessed was so severe that a door greeter who is handicapped was forced to build furniture. A large piece of furniture fell on him and broke his back. Wal-Mart refuses to accept responsibility and he asked me to find an attorney. He has undergone operation after operation and can barely walk.

I rather suspect that I am not on the list of the most liked employee by the night shift department managers, bar one, who are more guilty of employee misuse than the daytime department managers.

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The day before yesterday one manager pulled me aside and asked me what I thought of one night time managers. ( he actually said, “Gee, you too don’t like one another do you?")
I explained that two abused their positions, he was one. I had been VERY vocal about these two, in almost every case of a walk-out by an employee these two had been directly involved. I realized during the conversation that this particular manager was trying to warn me that there was intent to do harm (to me) in the making.

Last night the subtle hint became reality.

One complained that I had gone to the craft department during my break and I was written up for doing so. I was told that it was “stealing” from Wal-Mart if I did not take my smock off during my break. I countered that I had just finished unloading a truck - and knowing that I had a weight limitation no one complained about my leaving my department to do a job I have never been trained to do, and is not in my job description, and I am not paid to do.. but they do complain about my spending my break in the craft department.

Not wanting to become the focus of harassment I resigned.

The store manager said that if I was to leave the store in good standing I should give 2 weeks notice. I explained that I did not want to leave in bad standing, and I care deeply about my co-workers. Because the store is in such dire straits I would give the store manager, and assistant manager, a two weeks notice and I would remain through the Thanksgiving period.

I returned to work yesterday afternoon and unloaded yet another truck, then started to work in my department.

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A CSM asked me if I would take the door greeter position for a few minutes at 6:45 pm while one greeter went home and one went for a break. I willingly agreed to do so with the understanding that as soon as the elderly gentleman returned I would go back to my department.

At 7:15 pm I asked another CSM why I was still on the door 30 minutes later. I was told that he would find an employee within a minute or so. At
8 pm I had stopped a dozen employee’s and asked them to go get a CSM and tell them to get me off the door.
Each one was told, “she will be relieved in just a minute.”
Here in the mountains it’s almost freezing weather, the bay doors were wide open and I am stood in freezing wind with a short sleeve crop top on… turning blue. I adviced them that if a door greeter didn’t appear shortly I would walk off.

At 8.15 pm one of the CMS’s ( who I had spoken to previously) approached me and told me that she had to train me on door greeting. I told her that I didn’t want training.. I wanted relieving.

She continued to tell me that I had to be trained in what stickers to put on the return packages. But then she added, “We have two fuddy duddies on the grocery door who refuse to come over here because they are so used to being on the grocery door.”

I just looked at her and said, “You mean to tell me that while I have been sat weathering the eliments in a sleeveless crop shirt for an hour and a half we have door greeters who are REFUSING to come to this door.”
When she shook her head yes I walked away.

A third CSM told me to go back to the door and I said, “Nope, not in this lifetime.. it’s all yours.. not my job, not my responsibility and I am not paid to get ill. I have just recovered from bronchitis and pneumonia and have been told I may have emphysema and hell will freeze over before I sit in freezing conditions in a short sleeve shirt.”

As I walked back to the break room a department manager stopped me.

He asked, “Would you go back to the GM door.”

I responded, “No.”

He then said “Don’t say NO to me.. that is insubordination and you are now guilty of dereliction of duty.”

I advised him that I am not guilty of anything. I agreed to man the door for a 15 minute break and 1 1/2 hours later I am being given on the job training in freezing weather while I am blue wearing nothing but a short sleeve blouse, while 2 doors greeters REFUSE to come to that door, and I am NOT going back to that door.”

I was told to go back to the office and the second night time department manager was called. Seeing as I had both of them in one room I decided that instead of allowing the bullying to continue I may as well put an end to it.

I asked if they realized that I had resigned this morning. They said no. I explained to them that their bullying meant nothing.. they can call it insubordination, or dereliction of duty or anything they wanted but I was only working the two week period to help the manager, and if this behavior continued I may as well leave right then and there. But I would not allow them to make me stand in freezing weather with only a short sleeve shirt on and quite truthfully the lacking staff is NOT my responsibility.
I walked away.

Another manager tried to stop me as I was walking out of the employee locker area and asked if I would come back to Wal-Mart and explain to the store manager what had happened. I agreed to.. but I was so angry I added, “You know, I can put up with lot of harassment and hardship in a job but when I have already handed in my two weeks notice and these chumps want to continue bullying I just may return with a lawyer.”

Then I shook my head and said, “You need to keep out of this.. Wal-Mart is your career, it was just a temporary job for me.. you don’t need involving in this mess.”

I’m unsure if I have a case. I don’t know Wal-Mart regulations enough to know what to do.. I just need advice.. as quickly as possible..


I am getting nowhere this morning.. having been up ill all night I’ve lost my voice and am having difficulties speaking with department managers and gain any iota of common sense..

Is political doublespeak part of the Wal-Mart CBL’s that I have missed?

One of my department managers and I just had a phone conversation that sent me straight to the NOW web site frantically seeking a source of help in formulating an action plan.

The department manager: “Denise, I see nothing wrong with you becoming a door greeter SINCE YOU HAVE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS.”

Er’, excuse me Sir… I just unloaded a very large truck 30 minutes prior.. where did that weigh limitation go to THEN.

Convenient weight limitation I see. 

The department manager: “But Denise why didn’t you CLOSE the bay doors so that you would be warm.”

Er’ excuse me Sir, but I was told 15 minutes and seeing as I have never been NEAR the front of the store before how on earth am I supposed to know what I am allowed to do and what I am not allowed to do. If the doors are wide open I assume there is a reason.
I mean, with THREE CSM’s coming to view the mountain view from the bay wouldn’t you think one of the silly buggers would say, “Gee, I need to close the bay doors.”

Fact is.. I am being harassed and I know it. But what to do about it I’m unsure.
The hardest part about all of this is that I’m being harassed for being gracious enough to give the store manager two weeks notice before I left.. I could have just walked out like all the rest of them.

Am I going to abide by that 2 weeks notice now? Nope.. let them fire me.

I am calling around trying to locate all the employee’s who have left (walked out) in the past month.. there are at LEAST 20, perhaps a whole lot more.

Seems to me that in this case there is strength in numbers but if anyone has an action plan I sure would appreciate help.

Denise-

While I sympathize with associates who fill in at jobs with a higher pay level than their own without getting paid the difference, I advise you to reread the terms of your employment and see exactly what you agreed to. Also, I agree with Bob - your attitude sucks.

IRONHEAD-

What exactly could the union do? Maybe it could get the store closed, but that’s about it. Wal-Mart’s associates need the company a lot more than it needs them. Those considering voting for a union would do well to remember that.

So there it is Walmart workers. Someone said it all above.
With the present system (workers having few rights) “Wal-Mart’s associates need the company a lot more than it needs them [you]”.
This is because you have no voice in your workplace, just the relationship that Walmart wants with you.
You can change that relationship. You can be respected.
Check with a local union in your area that has an interest in retail. You are worth more!

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Alex-

Let’s say that Wal-Mart allowed the store to stay open (unlikely) and the workers went on strike. What would the union do for these people while Wal-Mart waited it out? With 4,000 stores, one or two won’t make a difference. Wal-Mart could wait a long time, if it even had to close the store.

These people need Wal-Mart’s jobs. Why are you encouraging them to throw it all away?

Alex,

“With the present system (workers having few rights) “Wal-Mart’s associates need the company a lot more than it needs them [you]”.  This is because you have no voice in your workplace, just the relationship that Walmart wants with you.
You can change that relationship. You can be respected. “

Sorry, but this does not only apply to Wal-Mart, it applies to all businesses, the workers need their jobs, more than the company needs the workers, like it or not!!  It is easier to find another worker, than it is to find another job!!  Think about it, if Wal-Mart closed all it’s stores tomorrow, who would be hurt more, the company or the workers?  The company would still have their money and could start another business, the employees would be unemployed.  And, try to find a job, with 1.3 million more people out on the street looking for work!!!

If Walmart closed all it’s stores tomorrow, who would be hurt more? I would say China and other 3rd world countries.
Probably Lee Scott too. Its a hell of a lot harder to go from tens of millions a year salary down to zero, vs the Walmart always low wage for the rank and file to zero.

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“…it applies to all businesses, the workers need their jobs, more than the company needs the workers,…”

Bob, are you serious? This is your concept of how modern business is run?

If you are serious, let us try a scenario I offered on another site as a business leader’s “philosophy” test.
Let us imagine your “effectiveness” if you had any position of power, in which you could pursue your business philosophy.

Setting:
International Shareholders Meeting and Conference for Boeing Aerospace.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight we introduce our keynote speaker ‘Bob,Bob’, who will introduce Boeing’s new ‘Labor initiative for the 21st Century‘.
Bob recently came to us from Wal*Mart where he was Vice President of Human Resources for WalMex.
Based on his past success with WalMex, we chose Bob,Bob as our new Vice President of International Human Resources where he will co-ordinate labor policy to fit our growing business demands for a new century”

( cameras roll, reporters take notes furiously, Powerpoint projections grace all four corners of the auditorium, down in front are the MOBs, CEO, CFO, and wives)

“Thank you….and let me reiterate my basic philosophy,
Which does not only apply to Wal-Mart, it applies to all businesses, the workers need their jobs, more than the company needs the workers, like it or not!!  It is easier to find another worker, than it is to find another job!! “

I think it was about three months later, I was fingering a Richard Pryor “Live on the Sunset Strip” DVD at Wal*Mart when someone came up behind me in a blue vest and asked “How May I Help You”?

“Bob?”, I asked.
“Yes?”
“No thanks sir, I do not need your help.”

We should get Bob to do the honours this year at the yearly Walmart shareholders meeting, telling all the Walmart Associates that “THEY ARE ALL STARS"[like they did at the meeting last year].
I guess that was not true if we listen to Bobs views of WM workers lack of worth to their company.

Attention Walmart workers:  YOU ARE WORTH MORE!

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That was kind of amusing, cazar. Thanks for the smile. In Wal-Mart’s case, Bob’s way of thinking is correct. I will have to respectfully disagree with the universality of his claim.

cazar,

“Bob, are you serious? This is your concept of how modern business is run?”

I was not stating a business philosophy, I was just stating a reality, that it is easier for a company to find a new employee, than it is for an ex-employee to find a new job.  While businesses DO need workers, when those positions don’t require any special skills, almost any worker will do.  In the case of a skilled worker, a better incentive will be offered.  One only has to remember one thing, “No one is indispensible, you can always be replaced”!!!